JP5158884B2 - Milk meter - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for automatically determining the progress of work and its quality in a milking machine having a function of performing work using a fluid such as a cleaning process and a sterilization process by automatic control.

  In a milk collection system using a pipeline milker, generally, raw milk is collected from a milking unit 10 attached to a cow by a vacuum pump P1 to a receiver jar 12 via a milk collection pipe 11 as shown in FIG. It is sent to the bulk cooler 30 by the feeding pump P2 and refrigerated until milk collection by the patrol service.

  In these milk collection systems and storage systems, temperature control and internal cleaning and sterilization based on a predetermined procedure are important for maintaining the quality of milk. Automatic using the vacuum pump P1 and the milk pump P2 Cleaning and sterilization systems are known. For example, in the pipeline milker shown in FIG. 10, the discharge side pipe 13 of the breast feeding pump P <b> 2 is connected in the cleaning tank 20 in advance and the connection provided in the branch pipe 14 of the milk collection pipe 11 passing above the cleaning tank 20. The milking unit 10 is connected to the mouths 15, 15. Then, by immersing the tip of each teat cup of the milking unit 10 in the cleaning liquid in the cleaning tank 20, the milking unit 10, the branch pipe 14, the milk collection pipe 11, the receiver jar 12, and the milk pump P <b> 2 are passed from the cleaning tank 20. A circulation circuit for the cleaning liquid is formed. Then, a predetermined type and amount of cleaning agent is supplied from the detergent supply device 21 to the cleaning tank 20 and mixed with hot water or water from a hot water valve (not shown), thereby storing a predetermined amount of cleaning liquid in the cleaning tank 20. Then, the cleaning liquid is forcibly circulated by driving the vacuum pump P1 and the breast feeding pump P2, and the milking unit 10, the milk collection pipe 11, and the receiver jar 12 are automatically cleaned. At the end of the cleaning or in the case of flushing, the drain valve 16 provided in the discharge side piping of the breast feeding pump P2 is opened, and the returned water and cleaning liquid are automatically discharged. The detergent supply device 21 can also supply a sterilizing agent, and in the sterilization process, the same process is performed by circulating a sterilizing solution. These processes are performed by an automatic control device (not shown) that controls operations of the vacuum pump P1, the breast feeding pump P2, the detergent supply device 21, the hot water valve, the drain valve 16, and the like.

  As a method for washing a pipeline milker, washing is performed by circulating washing water such as water and acidic / alkaline washing liquid before and after milking. In a normal washing procedure, milk components are first washed away by first rinsing with room temperature water or lukewarm water. Next, the dirt that is difficult to dissolve is removed by sequentially performing decomposition and cleaning of fat by circulating cleaning with cleaning water containing an alkaline cleaning agent and removal of inorganic substances by circulating cleaning with acidic cleaning water. Thereafter, the final rinse is performed with water or lukewarm water to wash away the cleaning solution. After washing, before milking, a sterilization operation with a sterilizing solution may be performed.

  On the other hand, in an automatic milking machine, a milk meter is used to collect milking data for each dairy cow and manage the health status and the like of each individual. The currently used non-reserved electronic milk meter has a milk flow sensor facing the inside of the milking machine, a milk flow integrating means, a storage means, a milking end judging means, a result displaying means, etc. Then, the amount of milk passing through the pipe is measured and displayed on the display means, and an alarm indicating the end is displayed when it is determined that milking has ended. As a milk flow rate sensor, a sensor that uses an electrical conductivity sensor and estimates the amount of milk that flows intermittently in a pipe from fluctuations in electrical conductivity between electrodes is widely used. In the storage type milk meter, milk is stored in the device by a valve device, and when it reaches a certain amount, it is discharged to the milk collection pipe and the discharge flow rate is measured from the number of times. A degree sensor may be used. In addition, some have a function of predicting the end of lactation based on the amount of milk and having a function of operating the automatic withdrawal device to collect the milking unit. FIG. 1 shows an example of a method for installing these milk meters, which is installed on a milk tube that connects a milking unit and a connection part of a milk line.

  The milking time measuring device (Japanese Patent No. 3751252) described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-210058 relates to improvement of a milk amount measuring device attached to a pipeline milker in order to evaluate the milk production capacity of each cow. When adding the actual milking time for each cow from the operating time of the vacuum pump / feeding pump, in order to exclude the pipeline cleaning time before and after milking from the milking time, the cleaning process is performed with the length of the vacuum pump operating time. And the milking process, and the operation time of the feeding pump in the milking process is integrated as the milking time.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-210058

  In the determination of the quality of cleaning and sterilization work of pipeline millers performed by automatic control, it was necessary to determine the quality of work using judgment criteria according to the process while taking into account the progress of the work. Did not have the function of determining whether it was properly cleaned / sterilized (cleaning temperature, detergent concentration, cleaning time). A milking machine control device or washing device with a temperature sensor or electrical conductivity sensor is commercially available, but it is necessary to set up a communication interface and rewrite the automatic control program. It was an expensive investment.

  The milking time measuring device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-210058 can be installed in an existing pipeline milker, and can discriminate between the washing process and the milking process, and can integrate only the milking time. It is not suitable for individually judging the progress of a complicated cleaning process using a plurality of cleaning agents. Also, since control signals such as pumps are used, connection with them is required. An object of the present invention is to provide a stand-alone fluid work monitoring device that can accurately determine the quality of a washing process and a sterilization process of a milking machine and can minimize new investment.

  In addition, the present invention uniquely determines each process of a fluid operation including a plurality of processes in a stand-alone state without being based on a process signal from an external device such as a milking machine control device or an automatic washing device. It is possible to provide a monitoring means such as a rational cleaning and sterilization process that can be easily installed in an existing control device or cleaning device. Further, when the user can select automatic / manual cleaning / sterilization work, another object is to be able to cope with the case where the worker himself / herself manages the process.

  The invention described in claim 1 is a milk meter with a monitoring function such as a washing function installed in a milking path of a milking unit of a milking machine, and is provided facing a control unit, recording means, and a milking path. A temperature sensor and an electrical conductivity sensor are provided, and the recording means stores in advance a predetermined reference value corresponding to a type characteristic of a work process by a fluid executed by an external device and a type of work process used for pass / fail judgment. The control unit compares and observes the output change of all or any of the sensors over time and the type characteristics of the work process, and the result indicates the type of the work process currently performed by the fluid from an external device. The process type determining means that independently determines without using the signal, and the state in which the output of all or any of the sensors satisfies a predetermined reference value corresponding to the type of work process used for the quality determination continues for a predetermined time. Or by whether by milk meter, characterized in that it comprises a work process quality determining means for independently determining the quality of the working process without using a signal from an external device, to solve the above problems.

  In the present invention, the milk volume meter is equipped with a temperature sensor and an electrical conductivity sensor provided for measuring the milk yield and determining the milk quality, and is used for automatic monitoring by utilizing progress monitoring and pass / fail judgment for the cleaning process and the like. It is possible to automatically determine the progress and quality of the washing and milking work of the pipeline milker. In addition to temperature sensors and electrical conductivity sensors, various types can be used in combination depending on the nature of the work performed on the fluid.

  Observing the change in the output of the sensor over time refers to determining the process type while taking into account the transition of the output so far along with the current output of the sensor. Record the order and type characteristics of each work process (threshold value of each sensor output for determining the work process), call a reference value indicating the type characteristics of the work process to be performed next time from the recording means, By repeatedly comparing with the output of the sensor, the type of work process currently being performed is determined and stored in the recording means. Therefore, even in a work including a complicated process using a plurality of cleaning agents, it is possible to judge the progress of the work process independently of the control device of the work process, and call the appropriate type feature to make a pass / fail judgment. it can.

  In a general pipeline milker cleaning operation, the liquid temperature is maintained at about 35 to 50 ° C. in the rinsing / sterilization process, and rises to about 60 ° C. in the acid / alkali cleaning process. A temperature sensor is effective for the determination. The electrical conductivity is close to 0 in normal water, but increases according to the concentration of the cleaning liquid, which is effective in distinguishing between the rinsing process and the cleaning process and confirming the amount of detergent. Therefore, by using the temperature sensor and the electrical conductivity sensor in combination, it is possible to accurately determine the progress of the process and its quality.

  Judgment whether the state satisfying the reference value used for pass / fail judgment has continued for a predetermined time is whether the state where the sensor output satisfies the reference value is repeated for a certain period of time, whether the state has appeared a certain number of times during the measurement period, This can be done by determining whether the integrated value of a certain variable in a state where other conditions satisfy the reference value is greater than or equal to a certain value. The fixed time may be a fixed value or a different value for each process. However, when the value is different, it is preferably stored in the recording means as a part of the reference value.

  In the milk meter with a monitoring function such as washing according to the present invention, in addition to the milk amount measuring function at the time of milking by the electric conductivity sensor, the temperature sensor / electric You can determine what the current process is by considering the output of the conductivity sensor, and then determine the quality of the current process by accumulating the duration of the temperature and electrical conductivity that meet the criteria. Therefore, the quality of cleaning can be determined independently without communication with external devices such as a milking machine control device and an automatic cleaning device. Therefore, even if it is an existing pipeline milker, it is possible to use the automatic monitoring function of fluid work by adding this milk meter. Moreover, even if it is a pipeline milker which has a several milking unit, monitoring, such as washing | cleaning of the whole pipeline milker, can be performed by providing this milk amount meter about one of them.

  The invention according to claim 2 includes a pH sensor in addition to the temperature sensor and the electrical conductivity sensor. The pH value is 6 to 7 for normal tap water, and increases when an alkaline cleaner and disinfectant are added, and decreases when an acidic cleaner is added. It is possible to more accurately determine the type and amount of the agent and bactericide. Therefore, by using a temperature sensor, an electrical conductivity sensor, and a pH sensor in combination, it is possible to accurately determine which cleaning / sterilization process is being performed and whether it is good or bad.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the milk meter with a cleaning monitoring function according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the operation process using the fluid includes a cleaning process and a sterilization process. The progress and quality of the cleaning process and the sterilization process can be determined by appropriately combining all or part of the temperature sensor, the electrical conductivity sensor, and the pH sensor.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the milk meter has a correction amount calculating means for obtaining a correction amount of the electrical conductivity according to the temperature, and outputs the temperature sensor when calculating the milk flow rate from the electrical conductivity. The milk meter with a monitoring function such as washing according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a more accurate milk flow rate can be measured by applying a corresponding correction. The correction amount may be calculated by a predetermined calculation formula, or a conversion table recorded in the storage unit may be used.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the milk meter with a monitoring function such as cleaning according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the milk meter further comprises a display means and an input means. . The display means displays a process currently being performed (in the case of a milking machine cleaning operation, acid cleaning, alkali cleaning, rinsing) and a determination of whether the operation is good or bad. The quality of washing can be confirmed before milking, and milk of good quality can be milked without fail. In addition, because it has an input means, even if the order of steps and reference values are different, you can select from multiple programs by setting from the input means, or rewrite the reference values stored in the recording means Therefore, it is possible to easily cope with the case where the control program of the pipeline milker is updated.

  The invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that the recording means accumulates and records the results of the quality judgment by the work process quality judgment means, and the cleaning etc. monitoring according to any one of claims 1 to 5 It is a milk meter with a function. By recording the pass / fail judgment, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of defective products and to easily identify the cause of the occurrence of an abnormal situation. When the electrical conductivity data or the like is recorded in the record, it is possible to obtain a more accurate record by correcting these with reference to the measured liquid temperature.

  The invention according to claim 7 is characterized in that the milk meter further comprises a communication means, and the result of the quality judgment by the work process quality judgment means can be transmitted to an external device. 3. A milk meter with a monitoring function such as cleaning. For example, by analyzing cleaning records using a dairy farmer's personal computer, it is possible to investigate the cause of the occurrence of defective cleaning.

  According to the milk meter with a monitoring function such as washing according to the present invention, it is possible to check the quality of washing before and after milking, and it is possible to pursue the cause when washing failure occurs by taking out a washing record on a personal computer after milking. Yes, it is possible to improve the traceability of food safety and safety, whether or not correct cleaning has been performed.

Conceptual diagram of the method of installing a milk meter according to the present invention Longitudinal sectional view of a milk meter according to the present invention Block configuration diagram showing an example of a control circuit Example of reference value table for quality determination of cleaning / sterilization process stored in recording means Flow chart showing cleaning / sterilization process monitoring procedure Flow chart showing cleaning / sterilization process determination procedure Flow chart showing the procedure for determining the quality of the cleaning / sterilization process The figure which shows the output change of each sensor at the time of the washing process of a milking machine The figure which shows the output change of each sensor at the time of the disinfection process of a milking machine Illustration of an automatic cleaning system for pipeline milkers

  Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are conceptual diagrams showing a method for connecting devices when a milk meter 1 with a monitoring function such as cleaning according to the present invention is installed in a pipeline milker. The milk meter 1 in this embodiment is of a storage type, and includes a solenoid valve 115 and a weighing container portion 116 for temporarily storing milk. The weighing container portion 116 is further provided with a lower weighing chamber Rm, by a constriction on the side surface. A valve mechanism V, which is divided into a central gas-liquid separation chamber Rs and an upper atmospheric pressure switching chamber Rc and is linked to a diaphragm provided between the atmospheric pressure switching chamber Rc and the gas-liquid separation chamber Rs, includes an upper portion of the measuring chamber Rm and The lower part opens and closes alternately. Further, a supply cylinder portion having an upper end opened near the upper end in the gas-liquid separation chamber Rs and a lower end opened in the measurement chamber Rm is provided at a side portion of the measurement container portion 116, and the measurement container portion 116 is provided therein. An electrical conductivity sensor 108 for detecting the level of the liquid surface, a temperature sensor 107 used for monitoring such as cleaning, and a pH sensor 109 are installed, and the output of these sensors is sent to the control circuit 100 of the fluid work monitoring device. Is output.

  At the time of milking, first, the electromagnetic valve 115 opens the connection pipe of the atmospheric pressure switching chamber Rc to the atmosphere, and the valve mechanism V opens the upper portion of the measuring chamber Rm and closes the lower portion thereof, so that the raw milk flowing into the gas-liquid separation chamber Rs from the milking unit 10 Are stored in the measuring chamber Rm and the gas-liquid separation chamber Rs. When a certain amount of milk is stored and the electrical conductivity sensor 108 detects a rise in the liquid level, the electromagnetic valve 115 connects the connection pipe of the atmospheric pressure switching chamber Rc to the vacuum pipe, and the valve mechanism V closes the upper part of the measuring chamber Rm. By opening the lower part, raw milk inside the measuring chamber Rm is sent to the milk collection pipe. As described above, by alternately communicating the atmospheric pressure switching chamber Rc with the vacuum pipe and the atmosphere, raw milk corresponding to the volume of the measuring chamber Rm can be sent to the milk collection pipe.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the control circuit. The apparatus of the present embodiment is a milking machine cleaning / sterilization process monitoring apparatus, and can monitor a plurality of cleaning processes and sterilization processes according to an operator's setting. Two types of fluid quality sensors are provided: an electrical conductivity sensor and a pH sensor. In the control box 100, the microcomputer 101 is connected to a temperature sensor 107, an electrical conductivity sensor 108, and a pH sensor 109 via A / D conversion circuits 104 to 106. Further, the temperature sensor 107 is installed inside a pipe through which the cleaning liquid / sterilizing liquid circulates, measures and stores the liquid temperature during cleaning or sterilization, and transmits it to the A / D conversion circuit 104 as analog data. The electrical conductivity sensor 108 and the pH sensor 109 measure and store changes in electrical conductivity, pH, and the like in the pipe during cleaning or sterilization, respectively, and transmit them to the A / D conversion circuits 105 and 106 as analog data. The A / D conversion circuits 104 to 106 convert these data into digital data.

  The control circuit 100 also includes a recording unit 102, an operation / mode changeover switch 113 serving as an input unit, a cleaning / sterilization process setting unit 114, a display device 110 serving as an output unit, and a communication device 111, and further includes a 5V built-in power source 112. ing. The display unit is a liquid crystal display device or the like installed on the front surface of the apparatus, and displays the result of determination of each cleaning or sterilization process and the quality of the cleaning / sterilization result. The communication device 111 can output the determined order of steps and stored data of pass / fail judgment to a personal computer or the like equipped with a wireless function by wireless communication means or the like. The control circuit 100 is connected to an electromagnetic valve 115 for measuring milk yield.

  The microcomputer 101 repeats the signals of the A / D conversion circuits 104 to 106 as a logical block by executing the program, and compares it with the reference value read from the recording means 102 to determine the fluid quality. The elapsed time after the condition is established is integrated by the constitution determining means 101a and an internal timer, and compared with the reference value read from the recording means 102, and the progress of the process is received from the control unit of the automatic cleaning device, etc. Cleaning and sterilization process unique determination means 101b, which is a process type determination means uniquely determined by a stand-alone process, and cleaning and sterilization process quality determination means 101c, which is a work process quality determination means for determining a quality result of the cleaning and sterilization process. The milk amount measuring means 101d for measuring the milk amount is provided. The recording unit 102 is a non-volatile memory, and stores a pass / fail determination and process determination program, a determination process order, a determination reference value table, a current process, past determination data, and the like. Since the cleaning process may vary depending on the model of the automatic cleaning apparatus, the process / reference value and the like to be determined can be selected and set according to the input from the cleaning / sterilization process setting means 113. The setting contents are recorded in the recording means 102, and each procedure is called to the microcomputer 101 in accordance therewith.

  Note that the cleaning and sterilization process monitoring device 1 is configured as a stand-alone device independent from the automatic cleaning device and the like, and signals are not transmitted to and received from these devices. Therefore, these devices will not be affected and will not be affected, and there is no need to set communication interfaces or rewrite programs. Can be easily set separately and independently.

  Hereinafter, the milking and cleaning method using the cleaning and sterilization process monitoring device 1 of the present embodiment will be described. However, the cleaning system of the pipeline milker of the present invention is substantially the same as that shown in FIG. It shows using. At the time of milking, as shown in FIG. 1, a milking unit 10 provided with a milk meter 1 with a cleaning monitoring function is connected to a milk collection pipe 11 of a cowshed. When the operator operates the operation / mode changeover switch 113 to activate the milk yield measuring means 101d and attaches each teat cup of the milking unit 10 to the nipple of the cow to perform automatic milking, the milk yield measuring means 101d is electrically While monitoring the output of the conductivity sensor 108, the electromagnetic valve 115 is opened and closed, the pressure switching chamber Rc at the top of the milk meter 1 is alternately communicated with atmospheric pressure and negative pressure, and the valve mechanism V at the bottom is opened and closed via a diaphragm. By doing so, milk is sent out to the milk collection pipe 11 by a certain amount. The control circuit 100 records the number of operations of the electromagnetic valve 115 on the recording unit 102 and displays the milk amount on the display unit 110. Further, when the milk amount per hour becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value, the display device 110 displays the end of lactation.

  At the time of cleaning / sterilization, as shown in FIG. 10, a predetermined amount of cleaning liquid or the like is stored in the cleaning tank 20, and the connection ports 15, 15 provided in the branch pipe 14 of the milk collection pipe 11 passing above the cleaning tank 20. A milking unit 10 provided with a milk meter 1 with a cleaning monitoring function is suspended, and the tip of each teat cup is immersed in the cleaning liquid in the cleaning tank 20 to form a cleaning liquid circulation circuit. The milking unit 10 and the milk meter 1 are automatically washed together with the milk collecting pipe 11 by the automatic washing apparatus. In each process such as cleaning and sterilization, when the atmospheric pressure switching chamber Rc is set to a negative pressure by the electromagnetic valve 115, the valve mechanism V closes the upper portion of the measuring chamber Rm and opens the lower portion. Then, the cleaning liquid that has flowed into the gas-liquid separation chamber Rs flows into the measuring chamber Rm through the side supply cylinder portion, and at this time the electric conductivity sensor 108 is being cleaned while cleaning the gas-liquid separation chamber Rs. The liquid quality can also be measured by the temperature sensor 107 and the pH sensor 109. On the other hand, when the pressure switching chamber Rc is set to atmospheric pressure by the electromagnetic valve 115 and the valve mechanism V closes the lower portion of the measuring chamber Rm and opens the upper portion, the cleaning liquid flowing into the gas-liquid separation chamber Rs is stored until the measuring chamber Rm is filled. Therefore, by repeating this, the entire gas-liquid separation chamber Rs and the measuring chamber Rm can be cleaned and sterilized.

  When the operator operates the operation / mode changeover switch 113 to activate the monitoring function of the milk meter, etc., and operates the automatic cleaning device of the pipeline milker to start the automatic cleaning, the milk meter with the monitoring function of cleaning, etc. The microcomputer 101 appropriately executes the fluid quality determination means 101a, the original determination means 101b such as the cleaning and sterilization process, and the cleaning and sterilization process pass / fail determination means 101c, and monitors changes in temperature, electrical conductivity, and pH of the cleaning liquid over time. Then, it is determined which cleaning step or sterilization affirmation is performed from the change of each measured value, and the measured values of temperature, electrical conductivity, or pH are compared with the reference time to determine pass / fail.

  FIG. 3 is an example of a cleaning / sterilization process pass / fail judgment reference value table stored in the recording means 102. The liquid temperature corresponding to the first rinsing process, the alkali cleaning process, the second rinsing process, the acid rinsing process, and the sterilizing process, Reference values for electrical conductivity, pH, and duration are stored. For example, when the liquid temperature of 35 to 50 ° C., the electrical conductivity of 0 to 2 mS / cm, and the pH of 6 to 7 are continued for 60 seconds in the first rinsing step, it indicates that the rinsing step is judged as good. In the case of this example, the reference value of this table also serves as a reference value for process progress judgment. For example, when a liquid temperature of 35 to 50 ° C., an electric conductivity of 0 to 2 mS / cm, and a pH of 6 to 7 are detected, It is determined that the first rinsing process or the second rinsing process is being executed. Whether it corresponds to the first or second rinsing is determined with reference to the processes up to now. Depending on the washing procedure, it is not always necessary to consider all measured values of the liquid temperature, electrical conductivity, and pH value in the determination of the process. Rinse or sterilization process when the liquid temperature is 35 ° C to 50 ° C, when the temperature is 60 ° C or higher It can also be determined as a cleaning step.

  Next, a specific determination procedure for cleaning / sterilization monitoring will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. In this embodiment, whether each process set in the recording unit 121 is good or bad is determined. If all the processes are good, the overall determination is good, and the display device displays good cleaning. If there is a defective process, all the defective processes are displayed on the display device. For example, in order to monitor the cleaning / sterilization process according to the table of FIG. 3, first, after the start of monitoring, it is determined as the “first rinsing process” based on all or any combination of liquid temperature, electrical conductivity, and pH value. After the quality determination of the “first rinsing step”, the “alkaline cleaning step” is determined based on all or any combination of the liquid temperature, electrical conductivity, and pH value. After the pass / fail judgment of the “alkaline cleaning process”, the “second rinse process” is determined based on all or any combination of the liquid temperature, electrical conductivity, and pH value. After the quality determination of the “second rinsing step”, the “acid rinsing step” is determined based on all or any combination of the liquid temperature, electrical conductivity, and pH value. Then, after the quality determination of the “acid rinsing process” and the comprehensive determination of all the cleaning processes, the “sterilization process” is determined based on all or any combination of the liquid temperature, electrical conductivity, and pH value.

  The determination procedure in each step will be described in detail. First, the cleaning / sterilization monitoring procedure is started by pressing the start / stop switch 114 (S101), and the measurement of temperature, electrical conductivity, and pH is started by each sensor (S102). . Next, the current process stored in the recording means 102 is checked (S103), and if all the cleaning / sterilization processes are completed, the quality of each process is checked (S104). If all the processes are good, the display device displays that all the process results are good (S106). When there is a defective process, the defective process and the defect content are displayed on the display device (S105).

  When the entire cleaning / sterilization process is not completed, the timer count is started or reset (S107). Then, the determination reference value of the process to be determined next is read from the storage unit, and it is checked whether the measured values of temperature, electrical conductivity, and pH satisfy the determination standard at regular intervals (S108). If the temperature / electrical conductivity / pH measurement value criteria are not satisfied, it is checked whether the value of the timer 124 exceeds a predetermined specified time (S109), and the check of S108 is repeated until it exceeds. If the specified time is exceeded, the process is unknown. When the measurement value criteria for temperature, electrical conductivity, and pH are satisfied in S108, the fact is recorded in the recording means 102, and the cleaning or sterilization process name is displayed on the display device (S110). Also, when the specified time has elapsed in S109, the fact that the determination is impossible is recorded in the recording means 102 and then displayed on the display device.

  Next, the quality of the cleaning / sterilization process that is considered to be in progress is determined. In this embodiment, even if the process cannot be determined, it is determined that the next process is being performed. First, the timer is reset and measurement of the working time is started (S111). Then, the measured values of liquid temperature, electrical conductivity, and pH are integrated at regular intervals (S112). Then, the time from the start of the operation is compared with the time reference value obtained by reading the cleaning / sterilization process time from the recording means 102 (S113), and if it is less than the reference value, S112 is repeated. If the measured value is higher than the reference value, the measured value of the liquid temperature, electrical conductivity, and pH recorded in the memory is read, and this is the product of the reference value of each measured value read from the reference value table and the reference value of the cleaning / sterilization process time. The comparison is made (S114), and the determination result is recorded in the recording unit and displayed on the display device (S115). When the pass / fail determination is completed, the integrated values of temperature, electrical conductivity, and pH and the timer for the cleaning process time are reset (S116), and the next cleaning or sterilization process is determined according to the procedure set in the recording unit. In addition, said apparatus structure and algorithm are examples, and are not restricted to this.

  The control circuit 100 is connected to an external computer such as a dairy farmer's personal computer via the communication device 111, and has a function of outputting accumulated cleaning management data.

  As described above, in the milk meter with the cleaning and sterilization work monitoring function of this embodiment, the cleaning and sterilization work is monitored independently without depending on the information from the external device. Even when there is an abnormality or when the cleaning tank is damaged and the detergent leaks out, the determination can be made reliably. Moreover, it is possible to determine the quality of the milking / sterilization work of the entire pipeline mill by providing at least one milking unit with a milk meter with a cleaning and sterilization work monitoring function. By effectively utilizing a control circuit, an electrical conductivity sensor, and the like that the milk meter is provided for measuring milk yield, it is possible to provide a monitoring device such as cleaning that is inexpensive and easy to add.

1 Milk meter with monitoring functions such as washing

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Control circuit 101 Microcomputer 101a Fluid quality determination means 101b Cleaning and sterilization process original determination means (process type determination means)
101c Cleaning / sterilization process pass / fail judgment means (work process pass / fail judgment means)
102 Recording means 104 to 106 A / D conversion circuit 107 Temperature sensor 108 Electrical conductivity sensor 110 Display device 111 Communication device 1 25 V Built-in power supply 113 Start / stop switch 114 Cleaning / sterilization process setting means 115 Solenoid valve 116 Measuring container part

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Milking unit 11 Milk collection piping 12 Receiver jar 14 Branch pipe 15 Connection port 16 Drain valve 20 Washing tank 21 Detergent supply apparatus

P1 Vacuum pump P2 Feeding pump

Claims (6)

A milk meter with a monitoring function such as cleaning installed in a milking path of a milking unit of a milking machine, comprising a controller, a recording means, a temperature sensor and an electrical conductivity sensor provided facing the milking path And a predetermined reference value corresponding to the type of work process used by the external device and the type of work process used for pass / fail judgment is stored in the recording means, and the sensor controls the sensor. All or any of these changes in output over time and the characteristics of the type of work process are compared, and as a result, the type of work process currently performed by the fluid is uniquely determined without using a signal from an external device. The process type determination means for determining and whether the output satisfying a predetermined reference value corresponding to the type of work process used for determining the quality of all or any of the sensors continues for a predetermined time, Milk meter, characterized in that it comprises a work process quality determining means for independently determining the acceptability of without the working process using a signal from the vessel. The milk meter according to claim 1, wherein the sensor further includes a pH sensor. The milk meter according to claim 2, wherein the fluid operation includes a cleaning operation and a sterilization operation. The milk meter according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the milk meter further comprises display means and operation means. 5. The milk meter according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit accumulates and records the results of the quality determination by the work process quality determination unit. 6. The monitoring function for cleaning and the like according to claim 1, wherein the milk meter further includes a communication unit, and the result of the quality determination by the work process quality determination unit can be transmitted to an external device. Milk meter

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