GB2029029A

GB2029029A - Flowmeters

Info

Publication number: GB2029029A
Application number: GB7902474A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Westfalia Separator GmbH
Current assignee: GEA Mechanical Equipment GmbH
Priority date: 1978-06-29
Filing date: 1979-01-24
Publication date: 1980-03-12
Also published as: FR2429554A1; IT1118403B; DE2828548B1; IT7967394A0; NL7812271A; DD142836A5; BE872850A

Abstract

A method for milking cows includes monitoring of the milk flow, switching optical or acoustic means on and off to produce a first warning signal when the flow falls below and rises above a preset minimum value and switching on means to produce a second warning signal when the flow rate has remained below the minimum value for a preset time.

Description

SPECIFICATION Method and apparatus for milking cows with monitoring of the milk flow The invention reiates to a method and apparatus for milking cows with monitoring of the milk flow in which on dropping below a minimum quantity of approx. 0.2kg of milkimin an optical or acoustic control device is switched on.

Such control devices are e.g. known from DOS 22 00 141 in conjunction with milk flow monitoring devices and comprise for example a cut-out device for the pulsator and an electrical lamp which lights up when, on dropping below a minimum quantity of milk, the pulsator is switched off, possibly with a time lag. The cow can then be dealt with individually when the pulsator is switched on again by hand.

The disadvantage of this method is that, as a function of the pulsator cut-out time, the cow is not completely milked and through switching on the pulsator again, which should be avoided, the milk flow has to be further monitored manually.

During the final phase of the milking process, which lasts 1 to 3 minutes, the milk flow can vary wideiy in the individual cows, i.e. after dropping below a given quantity of milk, the latter may increase or decrease again several times.

As the hitherto known control devices have only indicated the first time of dropping below the minimum quantity of milk the time of the complete milking of the cow is not established, i.e.

the milking process is either terminated too early or too late, so that either further milking is necessary involving the switching on again of the pulsator or blind or blank milking takes place.

The problem of the present invention is to perform the milking process in such a way that as far as possible the pulsator or milking machine is not switched off too early or too late, thus avoiding further milking with the switching on again of the pulsator or blind milking. It is known from experience that all cows are virtually fully milked if the milk flow remains below a quantity of approx. 0.2kg/min for a total time of about 30 seconds.

The problem of the invention is solved in that after first dropping below the minimum quantity of milk the control device switches on warnings signals for a given time of preferably 30sec. and at the end of this time switches on a permanent signal and wherein if this minimum quantity is intermediately exceeded the fixed duration warning signal is switched off.

In the apparatus for performing the method the optical control device is an electrical lamp.

The warning signal comprises the flickering of this electrical lamp for as long as the milk flow remains below the minimum limit and it stops flickering when the milk flow exceeds the minimum limit. When the total warning signal tirne is at an end, i.e. the milk flow has been below the set minimum quantity for a total time of approx. 30sec. a permanent signal appears. This permanent signal can consist of the lamp showing a light permanently.

Naturally other controls are possible, so that e.g. a green lamp can be switched on for the warning signal and a red lamp for the permanent signal.

In conjunction with an optical or acoustic control device this milking method is particularly advantageous with a manual cut-out device for the pulsator or milking system in that the milker is informed in good time by a warning signal that final phase of the milking process has commenced and by a continuous signal that the milking process is ended and the milking system can be switched off in good time.

In conjunction with an automatic cut-out mechanism which can be controlled in such a way that the system is switched off automatically on reaching the predetermined warning signal time the warning signal can draw the attention of the milker to the fact that the final phase of the milking process has commenced and if necessary complete milking aids can be used before switching off the pulsator.

This method substantially obviates blind milking and also further milking. Naturally an additional control device can be provided which gives a warning signal when the milk quantity is above the given minimum quantity.

An embodiment of the invention is graphically shown in the drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 shows the course of the milk flow during the milking process.

Fig. 2 shows the final phase of the milk flow.

Fig. lisa graph of the milk flow during the milking process, which rises sharply at the start of the process and drops away after reaching a maximum value.

Fig. 2 shows the final phase of the milk flow, which can extend over a period of 1 to 3 minutes.

A minimum milk flow limit of 0.2kg/min is given as an example in the graphs. On first dropping below this 0.2 limit according to the invention there is a warning signal, e.g. the flickering of an electrical lamp which in the present example initially lasts 5 seconds and then is extinguished on again exceeding the minimum milk flow limit and only lights up again on again dropping below the minimum limit In the present example the 0.2 limit is dropped below five times over a period of 5, 3, 8, 10, and 4 sec. During this time the lamp always flickers and goes out on exceeding the 0.2 limit. On reaching a given total warning signal time of e.g. 30 sec.

during which the flow has dropped below the 0.2 limit there is a permanent signal, e.g. a continuous light.

However, it is also conceivable that after switching on the permanent signal a clock is switched on which shows the milker the time which has elapsed since the end of the warning signal time.

1. A method for milking cows with monitoring of the milk flow in which on dropping below a

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Method and apparatus for milking cows with monitoring of the milk flow The invention reiates to a method and apparatus for milking cows with monitoring of the milk flow in which on dropping below a minimum quantity of approx. 0.2kg of milkimin an optical or acoustic control device is switched on. Such control devices are e.g. known from DOS 22 00 141 in conjunction with milk flow monitoring devices and comprise for example a cut-out device for the pulsator and an electrical lamp which lights up when, on dropping below a minimum quantity of milk, the pulsator is switched off, possibly with a time lag. The cow can then be dealt with individually when the pulsator is switched on again by hand. The disadvantage of this method is that, as a function of the pulsator cut-out time, the cow is not completely milked and through switching on the pulsator again, which should be avoided, the milk flow has to be further monitored manually. During the final phase of the milking process, which lasts 1 to 3 minutes, the milk flow can vary wideiy in the individual cows, i.e. after dropping below a given quantity of milk, the latter may increase or decrease again several times. As the hitherto known control devices have only indicated the first time of dropping below the minimum quantity of milk the time of the complete milking of the cow is not established, i.e. the milking process is either terminated too early or too late, so that either further milking is necessary involving the switching on again of the pulsator or blind or blank milking takes place. The problem of the present invention is to perform the milking process in such a way that as far as possible the pulsator or milking machine is not switched off too early or too late, thus avoiding further milking with the switching on again of the pulsator or blind milking. It is known from experience that all cows are virtually fully milked if the milk flow remains below a quantity of approx. 0.2kg/min for a total time of about 30 seconds. The problem of the invention is solved in that after first dropping below the minimum quantity of milk the control device switches on warnings signals for a given time of preferably 30sec. and at the end of this time switches on a permanent signal and wherein if this minimum quantity is intermediately exceeded the fixed duration warning signal is switched off. In the apparatus for performing the method the optical control device is an electrical lamp. The warning signal comprises the flickering of this electrical lamp for as long as the milk flow remains below the minimum limit and it stops flickering when the milk flow exceeds the minimum limit. When the total warning signal tirne is at an end, i.e. the milk flow has been below the set minimum quantity for a total time of approx. 30sec. a permanent signal appears. This permanent signal can consist of the lamp showing a light permanently. Naturally other controls are possible, so that e.g. a green lamp can be switched on for the warning signal and a red lamp for the permanent signal. In conjunction with an optical or acoustic control device this milking method is particularly advantageous with a manual cut-out device for the pulsator or milking system in that the milker is informed in good time by a warning signal that final phase of the milking process has commenced and by a continuous signal that the milking process is ended and the milking system can be switched off in good time. In conjunction with an automatic cut-out mechanism which can be controlled in such a way that the system is switched off automatically on reaching the predetermined warning signal time the warning signal can draw the attention of the milker to the fact that the final phase of the milking process has commenced and if necessary complete milking aids can be used before switching off the pulsator. This method substantially obviates blind milking and also further milking. Naturally an additional control device can be provided which gives a warning signal when the milk quantity is above the given minimum quantity. An embodiment of the invention is graphically shown in the drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 shows the course of the milk flow during the milking process. Fig. 2 shows the final phase of the milk flow. Fig. lisa graph of the milk flow during the milking process, which rises sharply at the start of the process and drops away after reaching a maximum value. Fig. 2 shows the final phase of the milk flow, which can extend over a period of 1 to 3 minutes. A minimum milk flow limit of 0.2kg/min is given as an example in the graphs. On first dropping below this 0.2 limit according to the invention there is a warning signal, e.g. the flickering of an electrical lamp which in the present example initially lasts 5 seconds and then is extinguished on again exceeding the minimum milk flow limit and only lights up again on again dropping below the minimum limit In the present example the 0.2 limit is dropped below five times over a period of 5, 3, 8, 10, and 4 sec. During this time the lamp always flickers and goes out on exceeding the 0.2 limit. On reaching a given total warning signal time of e.g. 30 sec. during which the flow has dropped below the 0.2 limit there is a permanent signal, e.g. a continuous light. However, it is also conceivable that after switching on the permanent signal a clock is switched on which shows the milker the time which has elapsed since the end of the warning signal time. CLAIMS

1. A method for milking cows with monitoring of the milk flow in which on dropping below a minimum quantity of approx. 0.2kg of milk/min an optical or acoustic control device is switched on, wherein after first dropping below the minimum quantity of milk the control device switches on warning signals for a given time of preferably 30sec. and at the end of this time switches on a permanent signal and wherein if this minimum quantity is intermediately exceeded the fixed duration warning signal is switched off.

2. An apparatus for milking cows with monitoring of the milk flow in which on dropping below a minimum quantity of approx. 0.2kg of milk/min an optical control device is switched on for performing the method of Claims 1, wherein an electrical lamp is used as the optical control device.

3. An apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the warning signal comprises a permanent flickering of the lamp.

4. An apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the permanent signal comprises a continuous light from the lamp.

5. A method for milking cows with monitoring of the milk flow substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

6. Apparatus for milking cows with monitoring of the milk flow substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.