JP5641541B2 - Cow number management method of milking system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a cow number management method of a milking system suitable for use when managing a cow number by communicating a unit controller of a milking unit and a management computer.

  Conventionally, in a milking system in which one or two or more milking machines are moved for each stall where a cow is tethered, a management computer separately provided in a unit controller of a milking unit mounted in each milking machine, a management room, etc. As a cow number management method of a milking system that manages cow numbers by communicating with each other, there is known a dairy cow breeding management method disclosed in Patent Document 1.

  The dairy cattle breeding management method disclosed in the same document 1 aims to increase the efficiency and convenience in milking processing and feeding processing, further in these setups, etc., while aiming at effective utilization of data, Specifically, milking is performed by moving a milking machine equipped with a milking machine controller to each stall where a cow is tethered, and a feeding machine equipped with a feeding machine controller is automatically moved for each stall. At the time of milking, at the time of milking, milk amount data corresponding to at least the cow bed number is obtained by the milking machine controller, and at least each milk amount data is obtained by the management controller that can communicate with the milking machine controller and the feeding machine controller. On the other hand, during feeding, the presence or absence of a cow is detected by a cow detection sensor, and By reading the cow number from the ID tag attached to the cow by turn reader is obtained so as to identify each cow.

JP 2009-112207 A

  However, the above-described conventional dairy cattle feeding and management method for tethered cattle (the cow number management method for the milking system) has the following problems to be solved.

  First, when milking milk, if cow numbers (ID) are mistakenly managed for milking cows, bad milk such as sick cows mixed with good milk or misfeeding Therefore, by reading the cow number from the ID tag attached to the cow by the cow number reader, it is confirmed by the management controller whether the cow number to be managed matches the cow number to be managed. In this case, the ID tag is attached to the cow body as an ear mark, but the cow body moves, so reading is not easy. For this reason, the cow number reader was attached to the feeder, and the cow number was read using a short distance approached when the dairy cow eats food (feed) in the feeding tank, but there was no appetite, like sick cows. Dairy cows often do not try to eat food in the food tank, and may not be installed depending on the form of the feeding system. From the viewpoint of ensuring the reliability and reliability when reading cow numbers, and increasing versatility. Was not necessarily the best method.

  Secondly, since the ID tag is attached to the dairy cow and the cow number (ID) is read by the cow number reader attached to the feeding machine, a number of ID tags attached to each cow and the cow that reads the cow number from this ID tag. A number leader is required. Therefore, in the case where labor saving in terms of management and work efficiency is not so important as in a small tethered barn, it becomes a cost increase factor that cannot be ignored in the entire management system using a computer.

  This invention aims at provision of the cow number management method of the milking system which solved the subject which exists in such background art.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention moves each milking unit 2ax, 2ay ... to each stall As ... to which the cows C ... are tethered, and performs milking. Is a cowhide management method of the milking system 1 for managing cowhide by communicating with the unit controllers 3ax, 3ay ... mounted separately and the management computer 4 separately provided, and in advance, all or part of stalls As ... By dividing, a plurality of milking groups Gax, Gay ... corresponding to each milking unit 2ax, 2ay ... are set based on the arrangement of each stall As ..., and within this milking group Gax, Gay ... At least the cow number data Dn ... related to each cow C ... corresponding to each stall As ... is set as group management data Dg ... While being registered in the computer 4, at the time of milking work, the unit controllers 3ax, 3ay, ... receive group management data Dg ... of the milking group Gax, Gay ..., which performs milking, from the management computer 4, and thereafter the group management data. The cow number Nc ... based on Dg ... is displayed on the display units 5ax, 5ay ... of the unit controllers 3ax, 3ay ... corresponding to each cow C ... for milking.

  In this case, according to a preferred aspect of the invention, the unit controllers 3ax, 3ay,... Can change the cow number Nc ... displayed on the display units 5ax, 5ay,. The correction process which corrects the related cow number data Dn ... is performed, and the transmission process which transmits the corrected cow number data Dn ... to the management computer 4 can be performed. At this time, the correction processing of the cow number data Dn... By the unit controllers 3ax, 3ay... Is performed based on the correction processing based on the operator number input, and the selection from the cow number list displayed on the display units 5ax, 5ay. Any one or both of the correction processing based on it can be included. On the other hand, the unit controllers 3ax, 3ay ... automatically delete the cow number data Dn ... for which milking has been completed from the group management data Dg ... when milking for the cow C ... of any cow number is finished, and Based on the group management data Dg..., Display processing for automatically displaying the cow number Nc... Of the cows C... To be milked next on the display units 5ax, 5ay. On the other hand, at the initial milking position, the unit controllers 3ax, 3ay... Can automatically receive the group management data Dg.

  According to the cow number management method of the milking system 1 according to the present invention based on such a technique, the following remarkable effects can be obtained.

  (1) Confirmation of whether or not the cow C to be milked and the cow number Nc to be managed match are the group management data Dg displayed on the display unit 5a. Since the operator can visually check the cow number Nc ... of the number tag T ... attached to the cow body of ..., the state (position and posture) of the dairy cow C ... in the stall As ... Even if it exists, the malfunction which mistakenly manages the cow number with respect to milking cow C ... which can be milked can be prevented reliably. Therefore, it is possible to ensure the reliability and reliability at the time of reading the cow number and to carry out without depending on the presence or form of the feeding machine, so that versatility and applicability can be enhanced.

  (2) The number tag T attached to the body of the cow needs only one printed display such as a plastic plate from the past, so a number of ID tags attached to each cow C ... and the cow that reads the cow number from this ID tag A number reader or the like is not required. Therefore, the cost of the entire management system can be reduced, and in particular, it is optimally applied to a small tethered barn or the like where labor saving in terms of management and work efficiency is not an important factor.

  (3) By dividing all or part of the stalls As ... in advance, a plurality of milking charge groups Gax ... corresponding to each milking unit 2ax ... are set, and at least each of the milking charge groups Gax ... The cow number data Dn ... associated with each cow C ... associated with the stall As ... is registered in the management computer 4 as group management data Dg ... and at the time of milking, the unit controller 3ax ... performs milking by the milking group Gax. Since the group management data Dg ... are received from the management computer 4, the unit controllers 3ax ... are simply moved to the corresponding milking groups Gax ... corresponding to the group controllers 3ax ... (group management data Dg ... ( For milking group Gax ...) It can be automatically with link (synchronization). Therefore, an operation such as tying on the worker side becomes unnecessary, and convenience and efficiency for the worker can be improved.

  (4) Since the milking group Gax ... is set to partition based on the arrangement of the stalls As ..., the arrangement of the stalls As ... already installed can be used directly, improving work efficiency and further reducing work errors. The most rational grouping is possible from the viewpoint of prevention.

  (5) According to a preferred embodiment, when the cow number Nc ... displayed on the display unit 5ax ... is incorrect by the unit controller 3ax ..., the cow number data Dn ... related to the cow number Nc ... by the operator's correction operation. If the correction processing is performed and the transmission processing for transmitting the corrected cow number data Dn to the management computer 4 is performed, the group management data Dg can be corrected reliably and easily.

  (6) According to a preferred embodiment, correction processing of the cow number data Dn ... by the unit controller 3ax ..., correction processing based on the operator's number input, selection from the cow number list displayed on the display unit 5ax ... by the worker If one or both of the correction processes based on the above are included, basically, the cow number Nc ... for the limited number of milking charge groups Gax ... Simplification and facilitation can be achieved.

  (7) According to a preferred embodiment, when milking of the cow C N of any cow number Nc ... is completed by the unit controller 3ax ..., the cow number data Dn ... If the deletion process to be deleted and the display process of automatically displaying the cow number Nc ... of the cow C ... to be milked next on the display unit 5ax ... based on the group management data Dg ..., replacement of the cow C ... As long as there is no change due to the above, it is sufficient for the operator to perform visual confirmation work, and unnecessary operations and the like are unnecessary, which can contribute to improvement in workability and work efficiency.

  (8) According to a preferred embodiment, if the unit controllers 3ax... Receive the group management data Dg... Automatically from the management computer 4 by power feeding to the taps 6. This eliminates the need for an operation for reception by means of, and thus contributes to further improvement in workability and work efficiency.

The flowchart which shows the process sequence of the milking work based on the cow number management method which concerns on suitable embodiment of this invention, The top view which shows the internal layout structure in a tethering barn provided with the milking system which applied the cow number management method, A schematic plan view showing an outline of a milking system to which the cow number management method is applied, Appearance front view including a partially extracted enlarged view of a milking unit provided in a milking system to which the cow number management method is applied, Side schematic diagram of milking system applying the cow number management method, Block diagram showing the overall structure of the milking management system that can implement the cow number management method,

  Next, preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be given and described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, in order to facilitate understanding of the cow number management method according to the present embodiment, the overall configuration of the milking system 1 in the tethered barn H will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 2 shows an overview of the entire milking system 1 installed in the tethered barn H. The tethered barn H has a milking zone Hs provided with a stall group A1 in which a large number of stalls As are arranged, and a maintenance zone Hc adjacent to the milking zone Hs. In the milking zone Hs, W is a passage through which an operator can pass, and on each side of the passage W, each stall As ... is sequentially arranged along the passage W, and each stall As ... has a cow C ... Will be tethered. The tethered barn H shown in FIG. 2 includes two parallel stall groups A1 and A2. And as shown in FIG. 5, while the milking system 1 along the stall group A1 is installed above the stall group A1 (also on the A2 side), along the stall group A1 in front of the stall group A1 A feeding system 70 is installed. In addition, the maintenance zone Hc includes a home position Po in which milking machines 2a, which will be described later, stand by, and includes a maintenance room such as a cleaning device and a management room in which a management computer 4 described later is installed.

  The milking system 1 includes a guide rail portion 51 disposed above the stall groups A1 and A2. The guide rail portion 51 includes a main rail 51m arranged along the stall group A1, and a plurality of branch rails 51s branched from the middle position of the main rail 51m in a right angle direction and arranged between the stalls As and As. Prepare. In addition, 51d ... shows the diverter connected to a branch part. One branch rail 51s is arranged with respect to the stalls As arranged, that is, two stalls As are placed between the adjacent branch rails 51s and 51s. Further, a milk line 52 and a vacuum line 53 shown in FIG. 5 are disposed in front of the front end of the branch rail 51s in the stall group A1. The milk line 52 and the vacuum line 53 are arranged along the stall group A1, and a tap (milk tap) 6 for connecting a distributor 54 described later is disposed at a position facing each branch rail 51s. In this case, a power tap 6e is attached to the tap 6. The other stall group A2 is configured similarly to the stall group A1 except that the position and direction are different.

  Furthermore, the milking system 1 includes two milking machines 2 a and 2 b that move along the guide rail portion 51. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the milking machine 2 a (the same for the milking machine 2 b side) is a carrier part 55 that is conveyed by an automatic conveyance method loaded on the guide rail part 51, and a main part mounted on the carrier part 55. A controller 56, a pair of left and right milking units 2ax, 2ay suspended from both sides of the carrier portion 55, and a distributor 54 provided at the tip of the carrier portion 55 are provided. The distributor 54 is attached with a power plug 54e that is attached to and detached from the power tap 6e described above. A drive unit 57 using a drive motor is mounted on the carrier unit 55, and this drive unit 57 is driven and controlled by the main controller 56. In this case, the stop of the carrier part 55 and the control of the moving direction are performed by detecting a detected part provided at a predetermined position of the guide rail part 51 by a detection part (detection sensor) provided in the carrier part 55.

  The milking unit 2ax (same on the milking unit 2ay side) includes a unit main body 60 including a pulsator device, an automatic detachment device, etc., four teat cups 61 attached to each breast Cb of the cow C, and a milk claw 62. . The teat cups 61..., The milk claw 62, the unit main body 60 and the distributor 54 are connected by a milk tube, and the teat cups 61..., The unit main body 60 and the distributor 54 are connected by a vacuum tube. Further, the detaching wire 63 fed out from the unit main body 60 is connected to the milk claw 62. In addition, in FIG. 4, the external view which looked at the milking machine 2a from the front is shown. With such a structure of the milking system 1, the milking machines 2a are moved with respect to the respective stalls As, and milking can be performed by the milking units 2ax, 2ay,.

  On the other hand, the feeding system 70 includes a guide rail portion 71 disposed on the front upper side of the stall group A1, and a feeding machine 72 that moves along the guide rail portion 71. As shown in FIG. 5, the feeder 72 includes a moving unit 73 that is transported by an automatic transport method loaded on the guide rail unit 71, and a feeder main body 74 that is suspended from the moving unit 73. The feeder main body 74 includes a feed case portion 76 having a feed discharging mechanism 75 with a meter at the bottom. In this case, stop of the moving unit 73 and control of the moving direction are performed by a detection unit (detection sensor) provided in the moving unit 73 detecting a detected unit provided at a predetermined position of the guide rail unit 71. With such a configuration of the feeding system 70, the feeder 72 is automatically moved with respect to each stall As ..., and a predetermined amount of feed B measured in a feed tank provided in front of each stall As ... is supplied. Can do.

  Next, the structure of the control system (electric system) of the milking system 1 which can implement the cow number management method according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, the unit controller 3ax is mounted on the milking unit 2ax (the milking unit 2ay side is the same). As shown in FIG. 6, the unit controller 3ax includes a unit controller main body 11. The unit controller main body 11 is connected to a display unit 5ax and an input unit 13, and is connected to a milk meter 14, a milk sensor 15 and The wireless communication unit 16 is connected. Further, a power supply unit 17 is provided, and the primary side of the power supply unit 17 is connected to the power plug 54e described above. The unit controller main body 11 has a computer function, and includes a series of control processing (sequence control processing) based on a processing program stored in a memory, as well as various data processing such as arithmetic processing, storage processing, communication processing, and input / output processing ( A computing process). Thereby, unit controller 3ax receives group management data Dg of milking charge group Gax which performs milking at the time of milking work from management computer 4 in relation to the present invention, and thereafter, cow number based on group management data Dg Nc... Can be displayed on the display unit 5ax of the unit controller 3ax in correspondence with each cow C to be milked.

  In this case, the unit controller main body 11, the milk meter 14, the milk sensor 15, the wireless communication unit 16, and the power supply unit 17 are built in the milking unit 2ax, and the display unit 5ax and the input unit (operation unit) 13 are As shown in FIG. 4, it arrange | positions in the front panel 21 of milking unit 2ax. The milk meter 14 has a function of detecting the milk amount at the time of milking, and the milk sensor 15 has a function of inspecting the quality of the milked milk. The milk sensor 15 has the quality (characteristic) of the milk. Various sensors for detecting whether or not normal can be applied. Further, the display unit 5ax uses the digital display shown in FIG. 4 to display various data necessary for the milking process, for example, real-time milk amount, milking time, and the like as numerical values and before starting the milking process. In connection with the present invention, for example, a four-digit cow number Nc can be displayed. Furthermore, the input unit 13 is provided with various input keys, switches, and lamps as well as a milking start key. In addition, 5ay shows the display part by the side of milking unit 2ay.

  On the other hand, for example, a management computer 4 is installed in the management room provided in the tethered barn H. The management computer 4 can be configured by a general-purpose computer system 80 as shown in FIG. The general-purpose computer system 80 includes a computer main body 81, a display 82 connected to the computer main body 81, an input / output unit 83, and a wireless communication unit 84. The computer main unit 81 has computer functions including a CPU (processing unit) 81s, a data memory 81d, a program memory 81p, and the like, and includes various management processes based on a processing program stored in the program memory 81p, arithmetic processing, storage processing, Various data processing (computing processing) such as communication processing and input / output processing is executed. Thereby, in relation to the present invention, a plurality of milking groups Gax, Gay ... corresponding to each milking unit 2ax, 2ay ... are set in the data memory 81d by partitioning all stalls As .... And the cow number data Dn related to each cow C ... corresponding to at least each stall As ... in this milking group Gax, Gay ... can be registered as group management data Dg ....

  The display 82 can use a color liquid crystal display or the like, and the input / output unit 83 includes an external media drive, an input unit such as a keyboard and a mouse, and an output unit such as a printer. Thereby, when moving two milking machines 2a and 2b with respect to each stall As ... and performing milking, each unit controller 3ax, 3ay and each via the wireless communication part 84 and each wireless communication part 16 ... The management computer 4 communicates and can perform basic management for cows. The communication method is not particularly limited. For example, various wireless communication methods capable of bidirectional communication such as short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) and wireless LAN, and specific power-saving wireless communication. And a wired communication system can be used. Moreover, since the management computer 4 needs to recognize each milking unit 2ax, 2ay ..., ID (identification code) is set to each milking unit 2ax, 2ay .... As this ID, a preset ID such as an IP address may be used, or ID data may be included in data during communication.

  Next, operation | movement of the milking system 1 based on the cow number management method which concerns on this embodiment is demonstrated according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 1, referring FIGS.

Prepare in advance. First, group management data Dg ... corresponding to each milking unit 2ax, 2ay ... is registered in the data memory 81d in the management computer 4 (steps R1, R2). That is, according to the present invention, by dividing all stalls As ... in advance, a plurality of milking charge groups Gax, Gay ... corresponding to each milking unit 2ax, 2ay ... are set, and this milking charge group Gax, The cow number data Dn ... associated with each cow C ... corresponding to at least each stall As ... in the Gay ... is registered in the management computer 4 as group management data Dg .... If necessary, general and basic arbitrary data such as a feeding amount and milking history for each cow C can be included. It is desirable to set the milking group Gax, Gay ... based on the arrangement of the stalls As .... In the case of illustration, since it comprises two stall groups A1, A2 arranged in parallel and two milking machines 2a, 2b (four milking units 2ax, 2ay ...), as an example, as shown in Table 1 Can be set. In this way, when setting a plurality of milking groups Gax, Gay,... Based on the arrangement of the stalls As ..., the arrangement of the stalls As ... already installed can be used directly, thus improving work efficiency. Furthermore, there is an advantage that grouping can be most rationally from the viewpoint of preventing work mistakes.

  In the case of illustration, the milking unit 2ax in the milking machine 2a is set to the right position in the stall group A1 as the milking charge group Gax, and the milking unit 2ay is set to the left position in the stall group A1 as the milking charge group Gay. . The milking unit 2bx in the milking machine 2b is set to the right position in the stall group A2 as the milking charge group Gbx, and the milking unit 2by is set to the left position in the stall group A2 as the milking charge group Gby. For this reason, each milking unit 2ax, 2ay... Is pre-determined by symbols, markings, etc. so that the milking machines 2a... Mounted, and the corresponding milking groups Gax, Gay. Is displayed.

  When the advance preparation is completed, the milking process is performed. In addition, until the milking processing work starts, each milking machine 2a ... stands by at the home position Po. Assume that the milking processing start time is reached. Since each milking machine 2a ... (milking unit 2ax, 2ay ...) is set with a milking group Gax, Gay ..., each milking machine 2a ... is set as the first milking group Gax, Gay ... Each is moved to the first milking position where milking is performed (step S1). In the case of illustration, the milking machine 2a enters the first branch rail 51s of the stall group A1, and the milking machine 2b enters the first branch rail 51s of the stall group A2. At this time, the example milking machine 2a ... is an automatic conveyance system, so that the detection unit (detection sensor) provided in the carrier unit 55 described above detects the detected unit disposed at a predetermined position of the guide rail unit 51, Further, forward control, stop control, and reverse control are performed according to a predetermined sequence program to move (self-propelled) to the milking position, and stop when it reaches the milking position (step S2). In addition, you may move each milking machine 2a ... by a manual conveyance system.

  On the other hand, tap connection is performed for the milking machine 2a (same for the milking machine 2b) that has arrived at the milking position. In the case of illustration, as shown in FIG. 5, a distributor 54 on the milking machine 2a side is connected to a tap (milk tap) 6 on the milk line 52 side, and at the same time, for the power supply attached to the tap 6 side. The tap 6e and the power plug 54e on the milking machine 2a side are also connected. Thereby, electric power feeding is performed with respect to the milking machine 2a (step S3). In this case, when the milking machine 2a is moved by the automatic conveyance method, tap connection is automatically performed by arriving at the milking position. When the milking machine 2a is moved by the manual conveyance method, tap connection is performed by the operator. Is done. The power supply by tap connection means that power is supplied through the power tap 6e and the power plug 54e, and the milking units 2ax, 2ay from the battery mounted on the carrier section 55, for example, using the tap connection as a trigger. Includes both cases where power is supplied.

  And unit controller 3ax and 3ay operate | move by the electric power feeding to milking unit 2ax and 2ay. Thereby, one unit controller 3ax automatically receives from the management computer (management PC) 4 the group management data Dg corresponding to the milking unit 2ax, that is, the group management data Dg related to the right position of the milking group Gax. At the same time, the other unit controller 3ay automatically receives the group management data Dg corresponding to the milking unit 2ay, that is, the group management data Dg related to the left position of the milking group Gay from the management computer 4 (steps S4 and S5). ). The group management data Dg is received by transmitting a data transmission command from the unit controller 3ax (same on the unit controller 3ay side) to the management computer 4, and based on this, the corresponding group management data Dg is transmitted from the management computer 4. It may be transmitted to the unit controller 3ax, or all the group management data Dg... May be transmitted unilaterally from the management computer 4 and the unit controller 3ax may select and receive the corresponding group management data Dg. As described above, if the unit controller 3ax automatically receives and processes the group management data Dg from the management computer 4 by supplying power to the taps 6 ... at the initial milking position, an operation for reception by the operator is performed. Is completely unnecessary, and there is an advantage that it is possible to contribute to improvement in workability and work efficiency.

  Furthermore, in the milking unit 2a (the milking unit 2b side is the same), the unit controller 3ax receives the group management data Dg, and the cow performs milking for the first time based on the cow number data Dn ... included in the group management data Dg. Display processing for displaying the number Nc on the display unit 5ax is performed (step S6). On the other hand, when performing milking, the operator displays the cow number Nc displayed on the display unit 5ax and the number tag T attached to the cow body (ear) of the cow C as shown in FIG. With reference to the cow number Nc, it is confirmed whether the cow number Nc matches (step S7). If the cow number Nc does not match, the unit controller 3ax corrects the cow number data Dn related to the cow number Nc displayed on the display unit 5ax to the cow number Nc of the number tag T based on the operator's correction operation. Process (steps S8 and S9). In this case, the correction process of the cow number Nc is a correction process based on the number input using the operator's input unit (operation unit) 13 or a correction based on the selection from the cow number list displayed on the display unit 5ax by the worker. Processing, either or both. Thereby, the cow number data Dn is rewritten and stored separately. At this time, the numerical value input at the time of correction or the selected cow number Nc is basically the correction of the cow number Nc with respect to a limited number after the milking group Gax is set. The operation (switch input) is sufficient only once or twice, and there is an advantage that the correction work can be simplified and facilitated.

  When the confirmation of the cow number Nc is completed, the operator turns on the milking start key after preparing for milking such as attaching the teat cups 61 to the cow C (step S10). Thereby, milking processing is performed (step S11). In the milking process, milk quantity is measured and milk quality (characteristic) is inspected simultaneously with milking. When the milking process is completed, the automatic removal of the teat cups 61 is performed by the operation of the automatic removal device. Then, the unit controller 3ax transmits milking data Dm including the obtained milk amount and the inspection result to the management computer 4. At this time, when the cow number data Dn is corrected, the unit controller 3ax performs the data processing for adding the corrected cow number data Dn to the milking data Dm, and thereafter the corrected cow number data Dn. Transmission processing for transmitting the added milking data Dm to the management computer 4 is performed (steps S12 and S13). Thereby, in the management computer 4, while milking data Dm is recorded, the correction process of cow number data Dn is performed. In addition, the data processing which adds the corrected cow number data Dn can be performed based on the operation start timing of an automatic detachment apparatus, for example. In this way, when the cow number Nc displayed on the display unit 5ax is incorrect, the cow number data Dn related to the cow number Nc is corrected by the operator's correction operation, and the corrected cow number data Dn is If the transmission processing to be transmitted to the management computer 4 is performed, the group management data Dg can be corrected reliably and easily.

  On the other hand, in the first stall As, when the milking process by the milking units 2ax, 2ay is completed, the taps 6 and 6e are detached (step S14). And the milking machine 2a is moved to the 2nd stall As used as the next milking position. When the milking machine 2a has reached the next milking position, the same milking process as in the case of the first stall As described above is performed (steps S15, S1,...). In this case, since the subsequent milking process work is not the first milking process work at the first milking position, the unit controller 2ax (same on the unit controller 2ay side) is not limited even if the tap connection to the taps 6 and 6e is performed. Based on the group management data Dg already received, the display processing for automatically displaying the cow number Nc of the cow C to be milked next on the display unit 5ax is performed, and the milking is finished immediately before from the group management data Dg. Deletion processing for automatically deleting the cow number data Dn is performed (steps S16 and S17). If such display processing and deletion processing are performed, unless there is a change such as replacement of the dairy cows C ..., the operator only needs to perform visual confirmation work, and unnecessary operations are unnecessary. There is an advantage that it can contribute to improvement and improvement of work efficiency.

  On the other hand, when the milking operation for all the branch rails 51s in the stall group A1 is completed, the milking machine 2a returns to the home position. Although the above milking processing work was demonstrated about the case of the milking machine 2a, the process similar to the case of the milking machine 2a is performed also in the milking machine 2b except the point where milking object becomes the stall group A2.

  Therefore, according to the cow number management method according to this embodiment, whether or not the cow C to be milked and the cow number Nc to be managed match is displayed on the display unit 5a. The group management data Dg, the upper cow number Nc, and the cow number Nc of the number tag T attached to the cow body of the cow C ... Regardless of the state (position or posture) of the cows C in the inside, it is possible to reliably prevent a problem that the management of the cow number for the cows C ... to be milked is mistaken. Therefore, it is possible to ensure the reliability and reliability at the time of reading the cow number and to carry out without depending on the presence or form of the feeding machine, so that versatility and applicability can be enhanced. In addition, the number tag T attached to the cow's body is sufficient with a conventional printed display such as a plastic plate, so a number of ID tags attached to each cow C ... and the cow number that reads the cow number from this ID tag. A reader or the like is not necessary. Therefore, the cost of the entire management system can be reduced, and in particular, it is optimally applied to a small tethered barn or the like where labor saving in terms of management and work efficiency is not an important factor.

  Furthermore, in the cow number management method according to the present embodiment, by dividing all stalls As ... in advance, a plurality of milking charge groups Gax ... corresponding to each milking unit 2ax ... are set, and this milking charge is set. The cow number data Dn ... related to each cow C ... corresponding to at least each stall As ... in the group Gax ... is registered in the management computer 4 as group management data Dg ..., and at the time of milking operation, by the unit controller 3ax ... Since the group management data Dg ... of the milking group Gax ... for milking is received from the management computer 4, each milking unit 2ax ... is simply moved to the corresponding milking group Gax ... to correspond to the unit controller 3ax ... Group management data Dg ... (milking group Gax ... Against, it is possible to speak to link the first time cattle numbers automatically (synchronization). Therefore, an operation such as tying on the worker side becomes unnecessary, and convenience and efficiency for the worker can be improved.

  The preferred embodiments have been described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and the details, methods, configurations, shapes, materials, quantities, etc., do not depart from the spirit of the present invention. It can be changed, added, or deleted arbitrarily.

  For example, although the case where milking by two milking machines 2a and 2b was shown with respect to two rows of stall groups A1 and A2, the number of stall groups A1 ... and the number of milking machines 2a ... can be selected arbitrarily. On the other hand, when the cow number Nc ... displayed on the display unit 5ax ... is incorrect by the unit controller 3ax ..., the data processing for adding the cow number data Dn ... related to the modified cow number Nc ... to the milking data Dm ... The modified cow number data Dn... Is sent to the management computer 4 in a batch and rewritten after all milking is completed. May be. The setting of the milking group Gax... May be targeted for all stalls As ... or may be targeted for some stalls As ....

  The cow number management method according to the present invention can be used in various milking systems that manage cow numbers by communicating with a unit controller of the milking unit and a management computer.

  1: Milking system, 2ax (2ay ...): Milking unit, 3ax (3ay ...): Unit controller, 4: Management computer, 5ax (5ay ...): Display unit, 6 ...: Tap, C ...: Dairy cow, As ...: Stall, Gax (Gay ...): Group in charge of milking, Nc ...: Ushiban

Claims (5)

  When performing milking by moving a plurality of milking units to each stall where the cows are tethered, a milking system that manages cow numbers by communicating with a unit controller mounted on each milking unit and a separate management computer A plurality of groups in charge of milking corresponding to each milking unit by dividing all or part of the stalls in advance, and setting this milking Group management data of the group in charge of milking that is registered in the management computer as group management data on the cow number data related to each cow in the group in charge as at least each stall, and that performs milking by the unit controller at the time of milking work From the management computer, and then Cow number management method of milking system, characterized in that the cow number based on the management data, and the display processing on the display section of the unit controller in correspondence to each cow for performing milking.   The unit controller performs a correction process of correcting the cow number data related to the cow number by an operator's correction operation when the cow number displayed on the display unit is incorrect, and the corrected cow number data is The cow number management method for a milking system according to claim 1, wherein transmission processing is performed for transmission to a management computer.   The correction process of the cow number data by the unit controller includes either or both of a correction process based on the operator's number input and a correction process based on the selection from the cow number list displayed on the display unit by the worker. The cow number management method of the milking system of Claim 2 characterized by the above-mentioned.   When the milking of the cow of any cow number is completed, the unit controller automatically deletes the cow number data for which milking has been completed from the group management data, and the next milking based on the group management data 4. The cow number management method for a milking system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein display processing for automatically displaying a cow number of a dairy cow to be performed is displayed on the display unit.   The milking system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the unit controller automatically receives and processes the group management data from the management computer by power supply by connection to a tap at an initial milking position. Cow turn management method.

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