JP2987753B2 - Milk volume detection device for milking machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for detecting a milk amount of a milking machine having a milk amount detecting section in a distributor connected to a milk tap of a milk pipe.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a milk amount detecting device of a milking machine has a pair of electrodes attached to a milk tube of a distributor connected to a milk tap of a milk pipe, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-46291. At the same time, the resistance value between the electrodes, which changes as milk flows, is measured by a detection processing circuit, and the measured resistance value is converted into a milk amount (flow rate).

[0003] The milk taps are provided at predetermined intervals in the milk pipe, and the distributor is provided in a milking unit that can be freely carried. At the time of milking, the distributor is connected to the milk tap near the cow body that performs milking. I do. Thereby, the milking unit is connected to the milk pipe through the distributor and the milk tap, and the milk that has been milked is supplied to the milk pipe through the milk tube, and the flow rate of the milk that has passed through the electrodes is detected by the detection processing circuit. Is done.

[0004]

However, since the milking unit is freely carried and used, the conventional milk amount detecting device uses a battery or a battery as a power source. As a result, there are problems associated with the use of batteries and batteries, such as inconvenience in management of battery replacement and charging and an increase in running costs, and in the event that the batteries are exhausted or cannot be used if the batteries are exhausted. Was.

The present invention has been made to solve the problems existing in the prior art, and enables the use of an external power supply even in a portable milking unit, thereby reducing the management burden and running cost. It is an object of the present invention to provide a milking amount detection device of a milking machine which can be used at any time while reducing the amount.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a milking machine for a milking machine having a milking amount detecting section 5 in a distributor 4 connected to a milk tap 3 of a milk pipe 2. When the distributor 4 is connected to the milk tap 3, a connection portion 7 for connecting the external power supply line 6 to the milk amount detection portion 5 is provided, and the milk amount detection portion 5 has a power supply portion 8 having an input side connected to the connection portion 7. A milk amount integrating unit 9 for integrating the detected milk amount, a separation detecting unit 10 for detecting that the distributor 4 has separated from the milk tap 3, and a milk amount integrating unit if the separation is detected by the separation detecting unit 10. Storage unit 11 stores the integrated amount of milk obtained from
Is provided with a storage processing unit 12 for storing the information in the memory.

In this case, according to a preferred embodiment, the external power supply line 6 uses a control signal line 6s for applying the control signals Sf and Sr from the pulsation controller 13 to the pulsator. The detachment detection unit 10 has a function of detecting that power supply to the power supply unit 8 has been cut off, and the power supply unit 8 has a power storage unit 14 that holds an output voltage for a predetermined time after the power supply is cut off. Further, the storage unit 1
1 uses a non-volatile memory 11e. On the other hand, the milk amount detection unit 9 includes a calibration function unit 15 for calibrating the detected value of the milk amount.

Thus, when the distributor 4 is connected to the milk tap 3, a control signal line 6s (external power line 6) for applying the control signals Sf and Sr from the pulsation controller 13 to the pulsator is connected to the milk via the connection section 7. It is connected to the quantity detector 5. On the other hand, the milk amount detection unit 5
Has a power supply unit 8, and an input side of the power supply unit 8 is connected to a connection unit 7.
, The output side of the power supply unit 8 is connected to the milk amount detection unit 5.
To obtain the required DC output voltage. The milk amount detected by the milk amount detection unit 5 is integrated by the milk amount integration unit 9, and when the distributor 4 is separated from the milk tap 3, the separation is detected by the separation detection unit 10, and the milk is detected. The milk amount integrated value obtained from the amount integrating unit 9 is stored in the storage processing unit 12.
Is stored in the non-volatile memory 11e (storage unit 11). In this case, even after the power supply is cut off, the output voltage of power supply unit 8 is maintained by power storage unit 14 for a predetermined time. Then, the calibration function unit 15 can calibrate the detection value using the integrated amount of milk stored in the storage unit 11.

[0009]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

First, the configuration of the milk amount detection device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 2 denotes a milk pipe. The milk pipe 2 is provided with milk taps 3 at predetermined intervals. On the other hand, reference numeral 4 denotes a distributor which is attached to and detached from the milk tap 3, and the distributor 4 includes a milk tube 21, and the milk tube 21 is connected to a milking unit (not shown).

Further, the distributor 4 includes a milk amount detecting section 5. The milk amount detection unit 5 detects a milk amount (in the present specification, milk amount is a milk flow rate) based on a pair of ring-shaped electrodes 22 and 23 and a resistance value between the electrodes 22 and 23. And a milk amount detection unit 24. In this case, the electrode 22 is assembled as a part of the milk tube 21 near the milk pipe 2, and the electrode 23 is a conductive pipe that is a part of the milk tube 21. The milk amount detection unit 24 is detachable from the distributor 4.

On the other hand, the milk amount detection unit 24 has a CPU, R
A processing unit 25 having a computer function including an OM, a RAM, and the like is provided, and a detection unit 26 is connected to the processing unit 25. The processing unit 25 includes the milk amount integrating unit 9 by software processing, the storage processing unit 12, and the calibration function unit 15.

As shown in FIG. 2, the detecting section 26 has switching transistors Qm and Qn. The base of the switching transistor Qm is connected to the processing section 25 via a bias circuit comprising resistors R1 and R2. The base of Qn is a bias resistor R3
And R4 via a bias circuit. Further, each switching transistor Qm, Qn
Are grounded, and the collectors of the switching transistors Qm and Qn serving as electrode connections are respectively connected to both ends of the primary winding 27f of the transformer 27. Furthermore, both ends of the primary winding 27f of the transformer 27 are connected to the DC power supply line 28 via the resistors R5 and R6, respectively, and both ends of the primary winding 27f of the transformer 27 are connected to the processing unit 25. On the other hand, both ends of the secondary winding 27s of the transformer 27 are connected to the electrodes 2 via the connector 29 shown in FIG.
2 and 23 respectively.

The processing unit 25 includes a display unit 30 for displaying milk amount and the like, an input unit 31 including operation switches and a keyboard, and a rewritable nonvolatile memory (EEP-ROM) 11e constituting the storage unit 11. Connect.

On the other hand, reference numeral 8 denotes a power supply unit including a smoothing circuit for outputting a DC output voltage and the like.
5 and the DC power supply line 28 is connected. In this case, the power supply unit 8 includes a power storage unit 14 that holds the output voltage for a predetermined time even after the power supply to the power supply unit 8 is cut off. As the power storage unit 14, for example, a large-capacity capacitor 14c can be used. on the other hand,
The input side of the power supply unit 8 is connected to the external power supply line 6 via the connector 32 (connection unit 7). The external power supply line 6 uses a control signal line 6s for applying control signals Sf and Sr from the pulsation controller 13 to the pulsator.

The pulsator intermittently opens and closes a vacuum tube (not shown) with an electromagnetic valve to generate a pulsating flow in the vacuum. The control signal line 6s includes a line on the front breast side as shown in FIG. The intermittent control signal Sf obtained by switching the full-wave rectified voltage of the commercial AC shown in FIG. 4 and the same control signal Sr shown in FIG. These control signals Sf, Sr
Opens and closes the electromagnetic valve. Furthermore, the control signals Sf and Sr are alternately supplied and the duty ratios are made different.

Therefore, the input side of the power supply unit 8 is
A pulsating current voltage Ei shown in FIG. 4C is obtained, and a predetermined DC voltage Eo shown in FIG. Also, a detachment detection unit 10 is connected to the input side of the power supply unit 8.
The separation detection unit 10 has a function of detecting that power supply to the power supply unit 8 has been cut off, and provides a detection signal to the processing unit 25 when detecting that power supply has been cut off.

Next, the operation of the milk amount detecting device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the distributor 4 is mounted on the milk tap 3. This state is shown in FIG. By mounting the distributor 4, the connector 19 and the connector 32
Are connected, the input side of the power supply unit 8 is connected to the control signal line 6s, and the detection unit 26 is connected to the electrodes 22 and 23. Thus, the control signals Sf and Sr from the pulsation controller 13 are applied to the input side of the power supply unit 8 via the connector 32.

On the other hand, during milking, the amount of milk is detected as follows. As shown in FIG. 2, when the switching transistor Qn is turned on by the processing unit 25, a current If flows from the DC power supply line 28 through the path of the resistor R5, the primary winding 27f, and the switching transistor Qn. Note that rf
Is the equivalent resistance of the primary winding 27f. In this case, the detection voltage Vn obtained from the primary winding 27f input to the processing unit 25
Has a triangular wave shape as shown in FIG. Further, the processing unit 25 compares the preset reference voltage Vs with the detection voltage Vn, measures the duration Tw in which the detection voltage Vn exceeds the reference voltage Vs, and converts the measured duration Tw into milk yield. Perform arithmetic processing.

On the other hand, at both ends of the secondary winding 27s of the transformer 27, a resistance R generated by milk between the electrodes 22 and 23 is provided.
Since o is connected, the secondary side of the transformer 27
A loop circuit Cs is configured by the secondary winding 27s and the resistance value Ro, and the current Is flowing through the secondary winding 27s circulates through the loop circuit Cs. Note that rs is the equivalent resistance of the secondary winding 27s. Therefore, although a resistance exists between the electrodes 22 and 23 and the grounded milk pipe 2, the use of the transformer 27 does not cause a leakage current to flow through the resistance, and does not cause an error. Further, the attenuation characteristic of the detection voltage Vn is as follows.
The duration Tw is obtained as a function of the resistance value Ro because it changes according to the magnitude of the resistance value Ro (the magnitude of the time constant in the loop circuit Cs).

In order to prevent the electrodes 22 and 23 from touching each other, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the direction in which the current flows is reversed by turning on the switching transistors Qm and Qn alternately. . FIG. 3D shows a detection voltage Vm obtained from the primary winding 27f measured when the switching transistor Qm is turned on. The milk amount value (flow rate value) thus obtained is displayed on the display unit 30.

In the milk amount integrating section 9 in the processing section 25, the obtained milk amount is integrated. Normally, the milk amount changes like the characteristic F shown in FIG. 5, so the milk amount integrating unit 9 samples the milk amount at a preset sampling cycle,
The total milk amount (milk amount integrated value) from the start of milking to the end of milking is determined (steps S1, S2, S3).

On the other hand, when the milking is completed, the milk tap 3
From the distributor 4. With the disconnection of the distributor 4, the connector 32 is in a disconnected state,
Power supply from the control signal line 6s to the power supply unit 8 is cut off. In this case, the interruption of the power supply is detected by the separation detection unit 10, and this detection signal is provided to the processing unit 25. As a result, the storage processing unit 12 in the processing unit 25 stores the milk amount integrated value by the milk amount integrating unit 9 in the nonvolatile memory 11e. Note that even after the power supply is cut off, the capacitor 14
Since the output voltage of the power supply unit 8 is held for a predetermined time by c, the storage processing of the milk amount integrated value is performed within the predetermined time (steps S4 and S5).

When the milking for the expected number of animals has been completed, a calibration process is performed (steps S6 and S7). The integrated amount of milk for each cow is stored in the nonvolatile memory 11e in order.

By the way, in general, in a milking facility,
Since an error often occurs in the amount of milk detected due to the inclination of the milk pipe 2 or the milk tube 21 or the like, it is necessary to calibrate the milk amount detector 5 for each milking facility. Next, the calibration processing system will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the milk amount detection unit 24 is detached from the distributor 4 and the automatic calibration device 51 shown in FIG.
Set to. Usually, since a plurality of milk amount detection units 24 are used, all the milk amount detection units 24 are set. Thereby, the connector 3 of the milk amount detection unit 24.
2 is connected to the power supply line, and the processing unit 25 is connected to the automatic calibration unit 52. On the other hand, 53 is a bulk cooler for storing all milk that has been milked, and the milk pipe 2 is connected to the bulk cooler 53. Bulk cooler 53
Is provided with a measuring unit 54, which measures the total amount of milk stored in the bulk cooler 53, and the measured value Ay is given to the automatic calibration unit 52.

Therefore, the automatic calibration unit 52 reads out the milk amount integrated values from the nonvolatile memories 11e in each milk amount detecting unit 24, adds all the milk amount integrated values, and weighs the obtained added value Ax and the measured value. Measurement value A obtained from the unit 54
Find the difference in y. Then, for example, when the addition value Ax is smaller than the weighing value Ay by N%, the automatic calibration unit 52 gives the processing unit 25 a calibration signal. Thereby, the processing unit 25
Is calibrated so that the detected milk amount becomes higher by N%.

Note that such a calibration process can be performed for each milk amount detection unit 24... In this case, the calibration rate (value) was obtained by manual calculation based on the integrated amount of milk stored in the non-volatile memory 11e in each milk amount detecting unit 24 and the weighing value obtained from the weighing unit 54. The calibration rate is input from the input unit 31. Thereby, the same calibration is performed by the calibration function unit 15 in the processing unit 25.

The embodiment has been described in detail above.
The present invention is not limited to such an embodiment.
For example, the external power supply line does not prevent the use of another power supply line such as a commercial AC power supply. Further, the detachment detecting unit may detect mechanical detachment of the distributor and the milk tap. In addition, the details of the circuit configuration and the like can be arbitrarily changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0032]

As described above, the milk amount detection device for a milking machine according to the present invention is provided with a connection portion for connecting an external power supply line to the milk amount detection portion when the distributor is connected to the milk tap, and a milk amount detection device. In the detection unit, a power supply unit whose input side is connected to the connection unit, a milk amount integration unit that integrates the detected milk amount, a separation detection unit that detects that the distributor has separated from the milk tap, and a separation detection unit. Since a storage processing unit for storing the milk amount integrated value obtained from the milk amount integrating unit when the separation is detected is provided in the storage unit, even a portable milking unit can use an external power supply,
The remarkable effect that the troublesomeness in management and the running cost can be reduced and that the device can be used at any time can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a milk amount detection device according to the present invention,

FIG. 2 is an electric circuit diagram of a detection unit in the milk amount detection device,

FIG. 3 is a time chart of signals of each part in the milk amount detection device,

FIG. 4 is a time chart of a control signal and a signal of a power supply unit in a control signal line used in the milk amount detection device,

FIG. 5 is a characteristic diagram of milk amount with respect to time during milking,

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining main operations of the milk amount detection device,

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a calibration processing system for the milk amount detection device,

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Milk amount detection apparatus 2 Milk pipe 3 Milk tap 4 Distributor 5 Milk amount detection unit 6 External power supply line 6s Control signal line 7 Connection unit 8 Power supply unit 9 Milk amount accumulation unit 10 Separation detection unit 11 Storage unit 11e Non-volatile memory 12 Storage Processing unit 13 Pulsation controller 14 Power storage unit 15 Calibration function unit Sf control signal Sr control signal

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-51-145774 (JP, A) JP 2-16851 (JP, B2) Jiko 6-46291 (JP, Y2) JP-48-48 6267 (JP, B1) Special Table Hei 6-504204 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) A01J 7/00

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A milk amount detection device for a milking machine having a milk amount detection unit in a distributor connected to a milk tap of a milk pipe, wherein when the distributor is connected to the milk tap, an external power line is connected to the milk amount detection unit. The milk amount detection unit, a power supply unit having an input side connected to the connection unit, a milk amount integration unit that integrates the detected milk amount, and disconnecting the distributor from the milk tap. Milking characterized by comprising a storage processing unit for storing in the storage unit a milk amount integrated value obtained from the milk amount integrating unit if the separation is detected by the separation detecting unit, which detects that the separation has been detected by the separation detecting unit. Milk detection device of the machine. 2. The milk amount detection device for a milking machine according to claim 1, wherein said external power supply line is a control signal line for applying a control signal from a pulsation controller to a pulsator. 3. The milk amount detection device for a milking machine according to claim 1, wherein the detachment detection unit has a function of detecting that power supply to the power supply unit has been interrupted. 4. The milk amount detection device for a milking machine according to claim 1, wherein the power supply unit includes a power storage unit that holds an output voltage for a predetermined time after power supply is cut off. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit uses a non-volatile memory. 6. The milk amount detection device for a milking machine according to claim 1, wherein the milk amount detection unit includes a calibration function unit for calibrating a detected value of the milk amount.