JPS638729B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention applies a negative pressure of a predetermined height to the inside of a milking cup attached to a teat for milking, and pulses the nipple rubber with a predetermined frequency and intensity. The present invention also relates to a milking method in which a stimulation action is applied during a stimulation stage to the teat to which the milking cup is attached for a predetermined period of time before the main milking stage. The invention further comprises a pulsator connected on one side to a negative pressure source and on the other side to a pulsator conduit guided to the pulse chamber of the milking cup;
The pulsator has two membranes connected to each other by a connecting rod, each membrane dividing each pressure box into two chambers, one chamber of one pressure box and one chamber of the other pressure box. one chamber of the pressure box is in communication with one another, optionally via an adjustable throttle, and the remaining two chambers are alternately connectable with a source of negative pressure via a control means, and a device for carrying out the above method, in which a switching device is coupled to the connecting rod for selectively communicating one or two groups of pulsator conduits with a source of negative pressure and with atmospheric inlet air.

Animals that are mechanically milked by humans, such as cows, sheep, and goats, are by their nature timid and will stop producing milk as soon as they sense danger. This phenomenon is widely known to milkers and is feared as the so-called "milk stagnation." The basic condition for milking is therefore that the animal being milked does not feel anxious and has a relaxed sense of security and routine. Today, by acclimating animals to the milking process, developing non-damaging methods of milking, and selecting animals that are well suited for milking and producing milk, it is now possible to achieve complete milk production. Cases where this happens are not that common. However, even if the milk does not stop producing at all, there are individual differences in the willingness to receive milking, and although the degree varies over a wide range, there are many cases where the milk stops partially.

There are clear differences in suitability to mechanical milking depending on animal breed and selection. These differences manifest themselves in the degree of udder emptying that is accessible by the mechanical milking process. For example, the only dairy sheep breed known today that has good milking properties is the Sardisch sheep.
For this breed of sheep, the mechanical primary milking rate is 81-87% and the secondary milking rate is 19-13%. The average secondary milking rate for all breeds of sheep currently being milked is approximately 37%. In this connection, it should be noted that even in the case of sheep breeds that are considered to be of very good quality (Assaf, improved Awassi, etc.), the extent to which milk can be obtained mechanically is incomplete. After milking, the twin lambs should have no difficulty in sucking the amount of milk necessary for growth from the udder. This example clearly illustrates very well that with proper stimulation virtually all the milk can be extracted from the udder. This is further evidenced by experiments conducted on seven new breeds of sheep. In this experiment, the amount of milk that could be obtained by mechanical milking from a test animal in a fully milk-producing state was 49 on average due to stimulation.
% to 76%. This increase in acquisition rate was approximately the same across all seven varieties. Furthermore, according to this experiment, the active milking effect of stimulation was demonstrated by the fact that the increase in milk yield almost corresponded to the decrease in secondary milking by hand.

In the case of dairy cows, remarkable advances have been made in the past 30 years in increasing their adaptability to mechanical milking, in parallel with the general introduction of milking machines. That is,
Today, high-producing milk breeds (Holstein Friesian, German Brown Cow, German Black Spot Cow, Danish Red Cow) as well as their cross-breeds (Israel Friesian,
Brown Swiss, German brown cows (Holstein Friesian) exist, in which mechanically very thorough milking is possible with very high milk yields. However, on the other hand, due to differences in target breeds (for example, emphasizing meat production, breeds that are less susceptible to diseases,
The classic breeds of cattle (German spotted cattle, Swiss brown cattle) are still widely kept. These cows can also be milked at will, but a satisfactory milking rate cannot be achieved unless sufficient stimulation is given. Even in this way, it is not always possible to reach the high milking efficiency of pure dairy cows. However, experiments have shown that conventional breast preparation (12
full stimulation (40 to 20 seconds) instead of full stimulation (40
(continued for 60 seconds), the annual milk production and annual fat production will clearly increase (approximately +10%) even in such breeds. Good stimulation further contributes to the development of the mammary glands until the onset of lactation.

In principle, milking readiness is brought about by stimulation. This applies both to natural suckling and to mechanical milking. This stimulation is an extremely complex process. A neural reflex evoked by the stimulation relaxes the smooth muscles within the breast. This particularly dilates the milk ducts.
In addition, the pituitary gland secretes the hormone ocytosin into the blood vessels and causes contraction of the cage cells surrounding the milk-forming follicles. This forces the milk continuously secreted into the milk-forming vesicles out of the cavernous gland structure (milk radiation). Only then can the milk flow into the lower cavity of the breast,
Only then will milk begin to come out. The milk radiation described above increases the internal pressure in the breast to approximately 30-60 mbar, which, assisted by the increased blood circulation, causes the nipple to become swollen and the narrow area between the nipple and gland sacs (fell). Stenberg's vein ring) is opened wide. Only then is the animal ready for milking.

Irrespective of the type and breed of the milked animal, the best milk yield is in each case only possible by milking quickly and gently immediately after sufficient milking.

Expressing milk and emptying the udder as completely as possible is of particular importance for improving milk yield. This is because the secretion rate (along with the readiness of the glandular tissue and its metabolic capacity) depends on the amount of space available. Intramammary pressure increases as the storage space fills. Since milk secretion takes place against this pressure, the rate of milk secretion decreases as the degree of filling of the reservoir increases. From this point of view, the often held view that the milk that is not extracted in the current milking will come out in the next milking is completely false. Leaving the breast in an incompletely drained state for a long period of time directly results in a decrease in daily milk production, deterioration of preservation ability, and shortening of the lactation period. This effect of completeness on productivity is most pronounced in high-producing dairy cows and least pronounced in goats. This is because in goats the storage capacity of the glandular sac is much larger compared to the glandular tissue.

Generally speaking, the better the stimulation, the faster and more thoroughly the milk can be extracted. The more unfavorable the stimulation, the greater the amount of milk remaining for mechanical milking, and the more manual labor involved in milking. Furthermore, as the amount of remaining milk increases, the morbidity of the udder also increases.

In principle, stimulation can be carried out by various stimulation means, such as metrical, thermal, visual, acoustic, olfactory stimulation. The most important are those that stimulate the tactile and pressure sensitive receptors within the nipple and nipple base. In the case of manual stimulation, this means masturbating the nipple up to the breast radiation. It takes the milker at least 45 to 60 seconds to perform this task. This means that the average milking time per cow is almost doubled compared to milking without prior stimulation. However, in practice, the increase in routine milking time does not double because good stimulation reduces the number of secondary milkings and therefore reduces the manual secondary milking time.

In the case of sheep, the amount of milk obtained in one milking process is only about 10% of the amount of milk obtained from one cow, so the calculation results for labor economy are particularly poor. Even if manual milking, which is customary in sheep, were abolished, the introduction of manual stimulation would further reduce the already low labor productivity by about 40%. For these reasons, it is not currently practical to provide stimulation to sheep.

On the other hand, it is clear that the degree of complete lactation that can be achieved without stimulation varies greatly from animal to animal even within a herd. In the case of animals that can milk only incompletely without stimulation, considerable production losses and udder morbidity inevitably result. In sheep, such udder diseases are generally fatal. Therefore, if we consider economic efficiency without prejudice, no amount of rationalization of labor productivity will be able to compensate for the loss of milk production. In the case of all milking animals, there is ultimately no substitute for milking the milk as completely as economically possible, that is to say with adequate and sufficient stimulation.

Indeed, various attempts have been made to mechanize this stimulation task for a long time. That is, various special brushes, vibrators, and pine surge devices are known. However, these known devices have the disadvantage that the milker has to be present at the milked animal for the entire duration of the stimulation, and therefore does not save any routine time. Moreover, most of these devices stimulate the breast body rather than the nipple, where stimulation is more effective.

Attempts to eliminate this drawback by semi-automation, at least within the milking parlor, have not been realized because the necessary positioning requires technically expensive and difficult-to-implement techniques. In particular, in solving this problem, it is necessary to restrict the animal's freedom of movement, which often results in milk retention due to fear, and thus results in the complete opposite of effective stimulation. happens. Such positioning poses great difficulties, especially in the case of anxious and restless sheep.

A breast shower is already known from US Pat. No. 3,554,166. According to this, pressurized hot water is sprayed towards the breasts from a ground-mountable device having a number of upwardly directed nozzles. The disadvantages of this solution are that a lot of water is consumed, additional costs are required for heating the water and there are major hygiene problems. This is because the filth that is present sprinkles on the breasts and the dirty water runs down and stains the nipples. This will only come out clean if you wash it carefully by hand.

According to US Pat. No. 4,034,713, a special device for stimulation is previously installed in the milking parlor. The device has a plurality of retention means per teat, which are elastically attached to the nipple from several different sides. Further, spray heads are provided inside the holding means, and hot water is sprayed from these spray heads toward the teat. This device, however, is only used for stimulation. The milker has to specially install this device and remove it again when the stimulation phase is over. Otherwise, the specific milking device cannot be attached to the teat. Operates independently of its own milking machine. Such known stimulators exhibit the disadvantage that under the operating conditions a coordination between the stimulation and the undelayed start-up of the milking machine is hardly guaranteed. However, if the animal is left in a state of preparation for milking even for a short period of time before milking, the effect of the stimulation is not only lost, but also partially has a further negative effect on the complete milk output. This often occurs in actual milking operations. This is because the milker usually has to look after a large number of milking machines, and as a routine task has to simultaneously perform the machine milking of other cows and secondary milking while mechanically milking one cow. It is from. As the number of milking machines being handled increases in order to increase labor productivity, milkers are constantly under stress, and they must work to provide sufficient stimulation, install the milking machine at the right time, and avoid premature milking. I am busy with the complete milking process through secondary milking. Moreover, during this period, the milker must always make a decision as to whether or not to milk each cow.

In order to solve the problem of the milker's unique stimulation task and also to solve the problem of coordination between the individual work steps up to the start of milking, a milking machine incorporating a pre-stage for stimulation before the main milking stage is developed. Already developed.

Namely, German Patent Publication No. 1482320-2
Milking methods using so-called two-chamber milking cups with two chambers are known. In this method, negative pressure and atmospheric pressure are applied alternately through a pulsator to the intermediate chamber of the cup during the specific milking phase, during which a constant negative pressure is applied inside the teat rubber. In this known device, there is a stimulation operation stage during the period from when the milking cup is attached to the teat until the start of milking, and during this stimulation stage, a negative pressure of the same level as the level during the milking stage is applied inside the nipple rubber. It is implemented by However, the pressure in the middle chamber of the milking cup is increased to above atmospheric pressure during the load release phase, causing the nipple rubber to contract strongly, thereby exerting a pine surge effect on the teat. The pressure increase in the pulsator duct is restored only when the milk of the milk-forming cyst is drained into the sac. However, it is not disclosed how to check the outflow of milk. Since a constant milking pressure is already applied during the stimulation phase and the pulsator pressure shows a suction phase with the same pulsator as during milking,
Normal milking begins immediately after the milking cup is attached.

From the periodical “Deutsche Agrarlechnik” Vol. 21, No. 4 (April 1971), the contribution of L. Czech “Zur Automatisierung in
A milking method corresponding to the invention of German Patent Publication No. 1482320 mentioned above has become known. The control of the pulsator pressure is such that in the release phase an overpressure of 0.5 KP/cm ² is introduced into the intermediate chamber of the milking cup, and in the suction phase the pressure is increased up to the normally used negative pressure. Therefore, a strong pine surge effect acts on the teat tips during the release phase.This stage of changing pressure conditions is held for a fixed period of 60 seconds, and then normal milking operation begins. In this milking phase, the pulsator pressure is only increased to atmospheric pressure during the release phase, since in this method too the negative pressure normally used during the suction phase is applied in the preparatory phase.
Normal milking begins immediately after the milking cup is attached.

Further, a mechanical milking method using a two-chamber milking cup is also known from German Patent Publication No. 1956196. In this method, after the milking cup is attached to the teat, the two-chambered cup is raised upward along the teat when the cow is not yet sufficiently stimulated. Since this elevation of the cup could obstruct the milk flow, according to this known method, by the start of the milking phase, not only the negative pressure inside the milking cup but also the negative pressure in the intermediate chamber of the milking cup is reduced during the suction phase. , to avoid damage to the teat and to enable milking. The purpose of varying the negative pressure in the intermediate chamber of the milking cup to match the drop in negative pressure inside the teat rubber is to avoid the so-called "ballooning" phenomenon. Such a reduction in the negative pressure is carried out in particular also at the end of the milking phase, when the milk output falls off. The vacuum reduction in this case takes place purely as a function of the measured milk flow rate. Similarly, it is considered desirable to lower the pulsator frequency when the measured value of milk flow rate decreases.
This is because the pine surge frequency of the nipple is thereby lowered. It is considered undesirable to apply a high pine surge frequency when milk production decreases or ceases at all, as this may cause damage to the nipple. Overall, in the case of this known method, the variation of the parameters is carried out solely as a function of the measured milk flow rate.

German Patent Publication No. 1956196, which was previously known from German Published Application No. 2524398
A milking method that increases the negative pressure inside the nipple rubber, contrary to the method in the above issue, is known. This increase in negative pressure actually has the purpose of ensuring free flow of the milk. This was clearly not always possible in the case of animals that were very difficult to milk (difficult-to-milk animals) using the previously known methods. This is because it is necessary to keep the milking vacuum low until the beginning of the milking phase. In order to soothe the teats, a suitably weakened negative pressure is applied to the pulse chamber when no or very little milk is being produced, but until milking begins. in this case,
The negative pressure in the pulse chamber must be determined so that the inner wall of the nipple rubber does not open completely during the suction period and the negative pressure is applied only to the tip of the nipple and not to the entire nipple. Furthermore, when using this method, the flow of milk back into the nipple must be extremely strictly restricted. This is because milk reflux into the nipple is a risk factor for mastitis infection. This method ensures reliable milking even at an early stage in the case of animals that are difficult to milk.
The changeover from the initial phase, in which the negative pressure in the pulse chamber is reduced, to the main milking phase also takes place depending on the milk flow rate.

Furthermore, a milking method is known from US Pat. No. 4,011,838 in which during the stimulation phase the negative pressure inside the teat rubber as well as in the pulse chamber is both reduced compared to the negative pressure during the main milking phase. According to the preferred embodiment, the negative pressure level in the nipple rubber is 33 KPa and the negative pressure level in the pulse chamber is 33 KPa, which is particularly suitable for the stimulation phase.
It is said to be 27KPa. At both pressure levels, in a normally milkable dairy cow, milk flows immediately after the striae muscle relaxes, ie approximately 5 to 15 seconds later. This process is completely independent of milk radiation. In other words, sac milk flows even in unstimulated cows. Correspondingly, the control of the milking process, i.e. the changeover from the stimulation stage to the main milking stage, is dependent on the milk flow rate, and in particular the value of this milk flow rate is 0.5 kg/kg.
This is done when the time limit is exceeded. As an auxiliary measure only in the case of weaning cows, switching is carried out after a predetermined time of 61 seconds, if the milk flow rate has not reached a predetermined threshold by that time. Additionally, it has been found desirable that the pulse frequency during the stimulation phase is reduced compared to the pulse frequency during the main milking phase.

A further method of milking is known from US Pat. No. 4,211,184. In the case of this method, the problem of the above-mentioned "balloon effect", that is, the problem of the rise of the milking cup at the teat as well as the problem of tightening of the teat base by the ring rib of the nipple rubber head must be solved. For this solution, the level of negative pressure in the head chamber of the nipple rubber is measured and the measured value is used as a control signal for controlling the negative pressure level in the pulse chamber as follows. That is, when the negative pressure in the nipple rubber head chamber increases, the negative pressure in the pulse chamber is reduced and the nipple rubber is controlled so as not to open widely during the suction phase. Incidentally, it is stated that this device can also be used for initial stimulation. However, that specification teaches that when a milking cup is placed on a teat that is not yet filled with milk, even though the teat is still in contact with the shaft portion of the nipple rubber, this Already during the period a full milking vacuum is applied inside the nipple rubber. Under such conditions, the milking cup will rise up the teat and the ring rib on the head side will squeeze the teat. This generally occurs with nipples that are not yet fully prepared, and the ring ribs are at the level of the Fürstenberg vein rings. Only when the milking cup has completely ascended the teat will the approximately
Due to the high milking vacuum of 50 KPa, the negative pressure in the pulse chamber is reduced to approximately 17 KPa. However, due to this reduction in negative pressure, it is no longer possible to return the milking cup once it has been raised to its original position. Therefore, as already described in German patent application P3001963, the sensitive nipple base at the level of the Fürstenberg vein ring is clamped by the ring ribs of the nipple rubber head. As a result, unpleasant pressure, which is the exact opposite of stimulation for the cow, is applied to the sensitive pressure sensor at the base of the teat. From the point of view of tightening the nipple base,
This known method is equivalent to a completely conventional milking machine which is also placed on an unprepared breast. From the point of view of stimulation means, a conventional milking machine would be considered superior to this method because of its substantially stronger teat pine surge.

From DE 24 23 554 a further milking method and device are known.
That is, each of the pulsator conduits leading into the pulsation chamber of the milking cup is provided with a control valve, thereby preventing uncontrolled opening movement of the teat rubber tube during the milking phase. . This opening movement of the teat rubber can cause backflow toward the teat, which can mechanically transport bacteria into the cow's teat. For this reason, during the period when the milk flow rate at the end of the milking phase is still below a predetermined threshold, it is necessary to substantially reduce the cross-sectional area of each pulsator conduit, leaving only a small portion of the cross-sectional area open. An adjustment member is inserted. This allows a gradual build-up of negative pressure in the intermediate chamber of the milking cup during the suction phase, and, on the other hand, a rapid inflow of air during the transition from the suction phase to the release phase. The pressure inside the pulse chamber is instantaneously raised to atmospheric pressure.
Such methods are hardly applicable for stimulation. This is because very strong forces are exerted on the nipples, which have not yet been stimulated and therefore have not yet received milk. Such high force actions can cause damage within the nipple capsule.

Some of the known methods mentioned above have the advantage of removing time synchronization problems from the milker. However, from a practical point of view, both methods yield unsatisfactory results compared to manual stimulation. Furthermore, the degree of complete milk evacuation from the udder is low, and the milking time is also long. Each of these methods uses completely different techniques for the stimulation stage, but contrary to expectations, the results are similar with each method.

Therefore, the present invention aims to improve a mechanical milking method with automatic stimulation, and by means of the automatic stimulation means, the degree of milk completeness of the udder is improved, the milk production is increased, and the milking labor productivity is improved. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method by which optimum milking conditions can be achieved.

The above object is achieved according to the invention by not milking at all between 40 and 90 seconds, preferably between 40 and 60 seconds after the start of the stimulation phase, and by starting milking immediately after said period has elapsed. .

The above technical invention was made possible based on the following observations and recognition.

Even in the case of manual milking, which is the closest approximation to natural milking in terms of stimulation, in certain shepherd groups the sheep are milked twice in succession at short intervals. (Ripassco) In this case, the second manual milking amount reaches 44% of the first milking amount. On the other hand, when we replaced the manual secondary milking that is currently customary for sheep after machine milking by restarting the milking machine after a short waiting period (double pause), we found that Assaf sheep It was found that there was no loss in milk production in the case of Awassi and Awassi sheep. From this observation it was clearly concluded that short intervals between milkings, rather than the method of stimulation, play an important role. This suggests that sheep, which generally require higher levels of stimulation than cattle, can be
It was reasoned that sufficient stimulation would be received - with or without known pre-stimulation. (This reasoning is contrary to the common perception that sheep cannot be stimulated mechanically). From the above facts, in the case of mechanical stimulation, what is particularly problematic is the neuro-hormonal response (cystocele radiation) from the start of stimulation.
- the delay time that elapses until the time of full action of - typically 30
I thought it was between 60 seconds and 60 seconds.

If an unprestimulated animal is connected to a milking machine, it is true that initially so-called sac milk can be extracted without the aid of hormones. This milk is dripped from the milk-forming follicles during the milking interval - due to secretory pressure - and is stored in the lower cavity of the udder. As is the case in most sheep with a milk flow time of 30 to 60 seconds, the milk that has accumulated in the spongy tissue in the upper mammary region is shaken out by radiation and is only then available. If the sac milk is completely expressed before this occurs, a process occurs that is not only superficially similar to the so-called secondary expression, but also has anatomical-physiological causes.

During milking, the intramammary pressure decreases linearly. The rate of pressure drop depends on the milking rate and the amount of milk stored in the udder for use. As the intramammary pressure decreases, the milk vein within the breast and, in particular, the lumen between the nipple sac and the mammary sac located at the level of the Fürstenberg vein ring gradually narrows.
This process continues until the teat is replenished with less milk than is extracted from above through the grooves. As a result, the milking vacuum is transmitted into the teat sac, causing the teat to contract and lose its support within the milking cup. The milking cup therefore rises above the teat due to the milking vacuum and completely blocks the flow of milk within the teat.

In this state, the most sensitive inner mucosa of the nipple is also rubbed together by the pulses. This stimulation results in neurally controlled expression of the milk drainage channel in the breast in parallel with mechanical channel occlusion. This makes the animal clearly want to be milked, even though the mammary glands are only partially emptied. This condition is commonly found in sheep, and therefore the milk initially present in the udder is first expressed, followed by a short rest, and then a second milking by hand after an intermediate rest. It is.

Some high-yielding milk breeds of sheep (e.g. Prealpes
du Sud) feeds the milk to the milking machine in two batches. At this time, the milk flow rate at the intermediate point drops to almost zero. A new, and in most cases more gradual, increase in milk flow is present approximately 40 seconds after milking begins. In the case of this animal, which apparently requires little stimulation, milk ejection is timed well enough that at least premature complete occlusion is just avoided by a re-rise of the intramammary pressure. At least a portion of the antral milk can therefore be further expressed mechanically. This clearly reduces the manual labor costs required to empty the breast to a satisfactory extent.

Even in cows that did not receive sufficient prestimulation, a moderately obvious return of milk production was often observed after 30 to 60 seconds. However, there were rare cases in which milk production completely stopped. This means that if the milking rate per teat is the same for sheep and cows, cows have more sac milk than sheep.
This is explained by the fact that the milk is rarely completely expressed before it is released from the upper region by mechanical stimulation. However, it has been found that it is clear in principle that delayed onset radiation always results in a slower milking rate and a less complete draining of the udder. Many reasons could be cited for this. Since the intramammary pressure is not sufficiently increased at the start of milking, the animal lacks the desire to express milk, and as a result, complete tension and relaxation of the mammary smooth muscle does not occur. Although an increase in intramammary pressure does occur in the case of delayed radiation, the degree of increase is not as high as in the case of radiation just before milking, since the milk storage in the lower mammary space has already been partially emptied. do not have. Furthermore, such a delayed increase in internal pressure only partially opens the milk passageway within the breast. That is, the reduction of the milk passage caused by the sudden drop in intramammary pressure during the first expression of milk is only partially reversed. This makes the flow of milk from the upper breast region that much more difficult. Incomplete milk evacuation of the udder is further exacerbated by hormonal stimulation, which decreases with milking time. Hormonal stimulation plays an important role, at least for cows whose average milking time is slightly longer than 5 minutes.

Based on the above findings, the following can be said. That is,
In any milking animal, milk should not be expressed before the animal is ready and willing to be milked with complete milk production and high intramammary pressure. Expressing milk during the stimulation phase will inevitably lead to a reduction in milk yield and will be accompanied by the various disadvantageous consequences mentioned above.

Experiments have confirmed that it is not necessary to stimulate continuously during the entire stimulation phase. It is sufficient to carry out the stimulation at the beginning of the stimulation phase and then interrupt the stimulation. The important thing is to start milking only after approximately 40 to 60 seconds have passed after stimulation begins. That is,
Stimulation may be performed for an initial period of approximately 30 seconds, this stimulation may be interrupted for the next 10 to 30 seconds, and milking may begin only after this stimulation is interrupted.

When carrying out the method of the invention using a single-chamber milking cup, it is preferred to apply a negative pressure within the milking cup during the stimulation phase which is sufficient to hold the milking cup on the teat. This negative pressure should be at a level that does not cause milk to be squeezed out of the teat. Intrinsic stimulation can be performed, for example, by using an electric heater or by warming the nipple using preheated air. In this case, the electric heater or preheated air can be integrated into the single-chamber milking cup. This stimulation can be achieved by providing an additional remote control valve on the outside of the milking cup, which is open during the stimulation phase and closed during the rest of the period.

In the above embodiment using a single-chamber milking cup, stimulation can also be performed as follows. That is, electrodes are embedded or deposited on the inner surface of the single-chamber milking cup and are used to apply electrical impulses to the teat, preferably at a frequency of 5 to 70 Hz.

According to an embodiment in which the method of the invention is carried out using a double-chambered two-chamber milking cup, the negative pressure in the pulsator conduit during the stimulation phase is such that the nipple rubber is lower than the rest of the suction phase compared to the milking phase. In the meantime, it is held in a more than half-closed state, thereby reducing the amount of milk to such an extent that it is prevented from being expressed.
In this state, the nipple rubber has shrunk and is pressed against the teat, so the negative milking pressure should be maintained at the same level as during the milking stage without milk being expressed during the stimulation stage. Can be done. If the teat is still in a deflated state during this stimulation phase, an undesired elevation of the milking cup is avoided. This is because the nipple rubber is always in a more or less compressed state and only vibrates. Reducing the underpressure in the pulsator conduit can be carried out in a simple manner by limiting the underpressure using a negative pressure limiting valve. In this case, the valve can be located in the milking cup or in the pulsator conduit and can be activated remotely or simply in a time-controlled manner. When the underpressure limiting valve is switched off, the underpressure in the pulsator conduit returns to its original value, ie to the value during the milking phase, thereby starting the specific milking phase.

In addition to reducing the underpressure during the suction phase, the pressure during the release phase can also be increased by connecting the pulsator conduit to a corresponding overpressure conduit. In this way, particularly good nipple pine surgery can be performed. However, such an embodiment requires rather expensive control circuitry. This is because the teat must first be introduced into the milking cup before overpressure is introduced. Otherwise, the nipple can no longer be inserted into the cup due to overpressure.

The additionally introduced pressurized air may have a pressure of 1.3 to 1.7 bar.

Stimulation can also be carried out in two-chamber milking cups in such a way that the middle chamber of the milking cup is held under continuously pulsed overpressure. The limit of the pulsing overpressure may in this case be approximately 1.2 to 1.7 bar. Such stimulation results in a good pine surge of the nipple. Furthermore, the negative pressure inside the nipple rubber for holding the milking cup on the teat can be eliminated. This makes the breasts especially important. A suitable overpressure pulsator valve may be provided in the pulsator conduit, which is inactive or switched open during normal milking. In this case, customary and known milking parameters are set in the milking cup for milking.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, stimulation is carried out by warming the teat to which the milking cup is attached or by applying electrical impulses to the teat. In this case, the negative pressure in the teat rubber can be kept at the same level as during the milking phase, and only the pulsator is kept in its release phase. That is, the intermediate chamber of the milking cup is placed under atmospheric pressure. To transfer from the stimulation phase to the milking phase, it is then only necessary to start the pulsator again.

Overall, according to the invention, optimum stimulation and therefore optimum milk production is achieved. Starting the milking phase only when suitable and sufficient stimulation has taken place, since the stimulation can be carried out in the milking machine itself and the stimulation phase can immediately be followed by the milking phase in a precise chronological sequence. and on the other hand it is ensured that milking does not begin until the peak of stimulation has long since passed. Optimal stimulation is provided, so
It was confirmed that the degree of complete milk drainage of the udder and the milking speed were each substantially improved. The milker is therefore given a double advantage. That is, on the one hand, the milker does not have to stimulate the animal himself and only needs to attach a milking machine, and on the other hand, due to good stimulation, the amount of secondary milking is reduced.

The milking method described above gives excellent stimulation results in most cows, resulting in obvious improvements in many of the above-mentioned respects. It has also been confirmed that mechanical stimulation according to the invention clearly outperforms 60 seconds of manual stimulation by an expert. The reason for this can be explained as follows. That is, with mechanical stimulation, all four nipples are always stimulated simultaneously, resulting in an additive stimulation effect, whereas with manual stimulation, only two nipples are stimulated simultaneously. This is because only. The amount of stimulation is also favorable - irrespective of any quantitatively measurable improvement in milking - in cows it is generally a completely peaceful, "pious" attitude with eyes half-closed and ears drooped during the stimulation phase and subsequent milking. Expressed by showing in stages. Particularly sensitive animals often exhibit a prolonged tail wagging reaction as a sign of pleasure. However, some cows do not respond favorably to the stimulation methods described above. These cows exhibit the same calm, "pious" behavior early in the stimulation phase, and some even wag their tails. Even in cows with this tendency, the udder and, in turn, the teats become swollen and elongated. All these signs indicate very effective stimulation and optimal milking desire. However, in these cows a regression in optimal milking desire occurs even during the stimulation phase. This condition can be recognized by the nipple becoming clearly deflated in parts and then shortened again. These cows may appear secure and ``religious'' during the early stages of stimulation, but become restless toward the end of the stimulation phase. In rare cases, milkers were observed shaking off the milker at the end of the stimulation phase. When this phenomenon occurs, it is almost always accompanied by a subsequent slow or delayed milk production and an increase in secondary milking.

Through long-term experiments, it has been found that the above-mentioned troubles tend to occur more frequently in the following cases.

(a) are already partially self-prepared during preparation for milking, i.e. already triggered visually, audibly or olfactorily (e.g. by the application of concentrate in the milking shed) before the milking machine is fitted; However, it is very rare to observe an adequate and sufficient state of self-preparation in cows where the reflex is triggered by the stimulus given.

(b) Cows that have already lactated before milking (premature ejaculation cows), although milk emission has not yet taken place.

(c) More common during morning milking than during evening milking.

(d) Cattle that react very quickly and strongly to stimuli.

(e) It occurs more frequently in cows during the first third secretion phase than in cows during the second and especially third third secretion phase.

(f) For cows in the second or third lactation phase rather than those in the first lactation phase.

(g) For cows with small udders but high milk production.

After a long study of the particular course of stimulation in the above-mentioned cases, it has been found that in certain cases very high intramammary pressures are already reached before the secretion of ocytocin has yet taken place. This is thought to be based on various reasons. This is especially the case when the available storage volume within the mammary sac is small compared to the amount of milk being forced out of the milk follicle. (The ratio of milk follicle volume to mammary sac volume varies for each individual cow between 30:70 and 70:30). The intramammary pressure even reaches over 10KPa. However, when such high intramammary pressures occur, the high intramammary pressures will clearly make the cow uncomfortable or even painful. This stimulates the secretion of the hormone adrenaline and immediately reverses the tonic state of the smooth muscles of the breast, even though it is still in the stimulation phase. However, the state of preparation for milking that had already been established by this time is effectively suddenly lost. Furthermore, adrenaline can block receptors in the milk-forming follicle tissue that are not yet affected by ocytocin, thereby preventing complete milk emission. These phenomena ultimately leave the cow as a whole in a less favorable condition at the end of the stimulation phase than if it had not been stimulated.

Moreover, the results of many systematic experiments have shown that at the end of a suitable and sufficient stimulation phase, the intramammary pressure is generally about 3
It was confirmed that the pressure was between 5KPa and 5KPa. However, the measured values showed that the intramammary pressure fluctuated within a large range of variation, from less than 1.5 KPa to more than 11 KPa.

Therefore, a further improvement in milking results is achieved by providing optimal milking to the cow before the main milking phase, without creating an excessively increased intramammary pressure that would again set back the milking readiness state before the start of the main milking phase. obtained by achieving the stimulation of

This problem is solved in the following manner according to the method of the invention described above. That is, during the stimulation phase the pulsation of the teat rubber is carried out with a frequency that is at least 50% higher compared to the frequency of the main milking phase, and during this period the maximum pulse negative pressure in the pulse chamber of the milking cup is adjusted to the inside of the teat rubber. The range is selected depending on the negative pressure and the folding pressure of the nipple rubber so as to be within the range given by the following formula.

Pulse negative pressure (stimulation stage) = 6 negative pressure inside the nipple rubber / 3 + folding pressure of the nipple rubber / 4 ± 5 [KPa] Using the method of the invention, a particularly favorable, i.e. suitable And sufficient stimulation is achieved, resulting in favorable results. The method of the present invention is based on the following recognition. That is, it is based on the recognition that it is clearly particularly preferable for the intramammary pressure to be 3 to 5 KPa at the end of stimulation, that is, about 40 to 90 seconds after the start of stimulation. This corresponds in normal cases to an average pressure increase in intramammary pressure of approximately 2.5 to 3.5 KPa during the stimulation phase. It has been found that, on the one hand, such a pressure increase must be achieved as far as possible by the end of the stimulation phase, and on the other hand, a pressure increase that substantially exceeds this must not occur. This is because if the intramammary pressure increases further than that, there is a risk that the milking condition of the cow, which has already been achieved, will go back to normal. Higher intramammary pressures can make the cow uncomfortable or even painful. It may not be advantageous to interrupt stimulation prematurely and enter the main milking phase early and especially if excessive intramammary pressure is reached prematurely, i.e. before 40 to 90 seconds have elapsed since the start of stimulation. It's clear.
For both milking results and long-term results, an optimal and sufficient stimulation phase should be carried out with a delay time of 40 to 90 seconds between the start of stimulation and the start of the main milking phase. Crucially important. The stimulation method should be such that as much as possible all cows reach an intramammary pressure of 3 to 5 KPa at the end of the stimulation phase after 40 to 90 seconds, and a substantial increase in intramammary pressure beyond that pressure is avoided. No.

This is achieved by selecting the maximum negative pressure in the pulse chamber during the "suction phase" accordingly, depending on the negative pressure inside the nipple rubber and the folding pressure of the nipple rubber, which is associated with an increase in the pulse frequency. Ru. This ensures that no milk is extracted until an intramammary pressure of approximately 3 to 5 KPa is reached, and when the intramammary pressure exceeds this level it is maintained at approximately 3 to 5 KPa for the entire duration of the stimulation phase. It is realized that a certain amount of milk can be extracted.

The internal pressure inside the teat rubber can then be maintained at the level used in normal milking stages. However, it is also possible to reduce the negative pressure inside the nipple rubber during the stimulation phase. In this method, the present invention can be carried out regardless of the level of negative pressure inside the nipple rubber, as long as there is a negative pressure large enough to release milk as soon as the internal breast pressure exceeds the above-mentioned level. Important for carrying out this method is the selection of the pressure difference between the nipple rubber internal chamber and the pulse chamber. This pressure difference can be determined from the above relational expression if the negative pressure inside the nipple rubber is known. Of course, its value depends on the stiffness of the nipple rubber used. It has been found appropriate to use the folding pressure as a relative measure of the stiffness of the nipple rubber. Note that "folding pressure" here should be understood as the pressure difference between the inside of the nipple rubber and the pulse chamber required to fold the nipple rubber to the point where the two opposing walls of the nipple rubber are in contact. . Initially, the negative pressure inside the nipple rubber and the negative pressure inside the pulse chamber are kept almost the same, and then as the negative pressure inside the pulse chamber is lowered, the inner wall of the nipple rubber gradually comes into close contact with the nipple. As the nipple is further lowered into the pulse chamber, the nipple rubber finally becomes in a contracted state, that is, the two inner walls of the nipple rubber facing each other slightly below the nipple are in contact with each other. When the nipple rubber is in this state, there is still some free passageway left within its collapsed figure-eight cross-section through which the breast can move back and forth. The greater the stiffness of the nipple rubber, the greater the wedging force that can be transmitted by the rubber wall to the teat tip for locking or tightening of the nipple rubber onto the nipple.
Rubber with high flexibility (low folding pressure) is easily crushed by a relatively small pressure difference, but the wedge force applied to the nipple tip in a substantially radial direction is small. Rather, such flexible rubber clings softly around the nipple tip and thus only applies pressure to the nipple tip acting in virtually all directions, and does not have a wedging force acting in the radial direction. Experiments have shown that in order to achieve a certain clamping force on the nipple tip, all other conditions being the same, the pressure difference between the pulse chamber and the inside of the nipple rubber should be changed to a soft rubber with a small folding pressure (6KPa). In case the folding pressure is high (15KPa) it should be only about 10% higher than in the case of rigid rubber. This results in the same amount of nipple tip clamping force in both cases. In order to determine the required pressure difference between the negative pressure inside the pulse chamber during the suction phase and the negative pressure inside the nipple rubber, it was necessary to maintain the intramammary pressure at approximately 3 to 5 KPa during the stimulation phase and to exceed this. Sometimes it is necessary to take into account that the milk is drained and the intramammary pressure is returned to the level in the above range, and during the stimulation phase it is operated with a negative pressure in the nipple rubber in the range of about 20 to 51 KPa and about 5 It is assumed that a nipple rubber with a folding pressure in the range of 15 to 15 KPa is used.

Regarding stimulation, the type of stimulation is not very important as long as it can reach the minimum necessary stimulation level. This minimum value can vary widely. It has been found that if, in the method of the invention, the movement of the nipple rubber, i.e. the amplitude of its movement, is reduced in such a way as to limit the outflow of milk, optimal stimulation can no longer be carried out under those conditions. According to the present invention, it has been discovered that even under such conditions, optimal stimulation can be obtained by increasing the pulse frequency accordingly. It was confirmed that the combination of a small nipple rubber movement vibration and a high pulse frequency resulted in better tension and relaxation of the breast, especially in the striae muscle, compared to a combination of a large nipple rubber movement and a low frequency. . This means that if the pulse frequency is increased, the pressure applied to the teat generally needs to be increased faster in order to correspondingly limit milk leakage more strongly. It has proven to be particularly advantageous, especially at high frequencies (up to 120 cycles/min), to select the rising and falling sides of the pulse curve during the stimulation phase as flat as possible. That is, it is desirable to change the pulse waveform from a normal almost rectangular pulse waveform to a sawtooth waveform or a right triangular or rather isosceles triangular pulse waveform during the stimulation phase. The flatter the rise and fall of the pulse negative pressure, the smaller the impulse acting on the nipple.
In addition, the nipple rubber can follow pressure changes well, resulting in violent uncontrolled rubber movement [so-called "snappy pulsation"].
pulsalion)] is eliminated. Furthermore, the triangular shape of the pulse waveform has the advantage that the suction phase portion is generally significantly smaller and the time of minimal pressure loading of the nipple tip is significantly shortened. Therefore, the negative pressure within the pulse chamber can be increased without increasing milk outflow. This makes it possible to further increase the amplitude of the movement of the nipple rubber, and therefore the degree of stimulation, without changing the milk outflow.

The use of high pulse frequencies to improve tone-relaxation and the use of flat-slope pulse curves to reduce suction at the nipple tip are balanced to a large extent. However, if the frequency is increased, the pressure applied to the nipple must be intentionally increased somewhat earlier. A pulse frequency of 140 to 280 cycles/min has been found to be particularly preferred. It seems optimal to use as strong a stimulus as possible in a short period of time, i.e. as high a pulse frequency as possible (up to 450 cycles/min), and with an amplitude that is not too small. However, it has been found that a somewhat weaker stimulus is preferred in order to avoid certain risks of over-stimulation and to avoid becoming accustomed to the stimulus over time. The method of the invention is not only applicable to hands, but is equally applicable to sheep and goats. However, in the latter case, it is rather appropriate to use the lower value of the pressure difference determined from the above equation.

In the above detailed description, the invention relates to a so-called two-compartment milking cup, i.e. a milking cup with one nipple rubber sac, in which an intermediate chamber for the pulsator connection is formed between the nipple rubber and the milking cup casing. explained. However, the method of the present invention uses a so-called one-chamber milking cup, that is, a type of milking cup in which there is no alternation between the suction phase and the release phase, and negative pressure is continuously applied to the tip of the teat without nipple rubber massage. It can also be implemented. In this case, the negative pressure in the milking cup during the stimulation phase with the milking cup attached is such that the desired intra-mammary pressure can be built up during the stimulation phase regardless of the application of the negative pressure. must be selected. In the case of a one-compartment milking cup, the method of the invention is therefore carried out as follows. That is, during the stimulation phase, the pulse volume at the upper edge of the single-chamber milking cup is pulsed at a frequency that is more than 50% higher than the frequency during the main milking phase, and during this period the negative pressure inside the nipple rubber is pulsated. about
It is carried out in such a manner that the pressure is controlled at 18 to 25 KPa.

For stimulation, it is not necessary to apply pulsating motions to the nipple during the entire period of the stimulation phase. Such pulsations may be applied only during a portion of the stimulation phase, for example only at the beginning of the stimulation phase. If the pulsation is turned off for approximately the remainder of the stimulation phase, the milking cup is then in the suction phase position and, since the milking cup is in a static state, there is no gap between the inside of the nipple rubber and the pulse chamber. Care must be taken to ensure that a sufficient pressure difference exists between the

The pressure difference between the inside of the nipple rubber and the pulse chamber can be easily set using, for example, a negative pressure limiting valve inserted into the pulsator connecting pipe.

Stimulation is also achieved by applying pulsed pressure to the pulse chamber of the milking cup during the stimulation phase, rising not to atmospheric pressure but to an overpressure level. In this case, the overpressure level is approximately 0.
It can be between 25KPa. By varying the pressure within the pulse chamber between the maximum negative pressure and the maximum overpressure in this manner, an increased stimulation effect is imparted to the nipple. This is advantageous in the case of less sensitive and less domesticated cattle.

It has been found advantageous that a device of the type described above for carrying out the method of the invention is constructed as follows. that is, a shunt having a first controllable flow port is provided in the main conduit leading to the negative pressure source, a bypass is provided to bypass the adjustable throttle, and a bypass is provided in the main conduit that bypasses the adjustable throttle; a first occlusion device which is bypassed by a shunt and is closable during the stimulation phase and a second occlusion device is provided in the bypass which is closable during the main milking phase. . Such an arrangement makes it possible to easily and accurately set the pulse frequency, which is varied with respect to the main milking phase during the stimulation phase, as well as the negative pressure in the pulse chamber, while adding virtually no special features to conventional pulsators. There is no need to make any changes.

Furthermore, a third, closable closure device during the stimulation phase is provided in the conduit extending to the switching device of the pulsator for atmospheric inlet air, and a second adjustable closure device is provided in the second branch bypassing the closure device. It is preferable for many applications to provide a suitable flow port. With this arrangement, the rising and falling slopes of the negative pressure curve in the pulse chamber can be set accurately and arbitrarily, and in particular, the rising and falling sides of the curve are equal to each other. Alternatively, it can be set to provide a type of needle-like impulse with relatively steep ascending and descending slopes.

According to a preferred embodiment, the first closure device in the main conduit is constituted by a membrane. The control side of the membrane is connected to an atmospheric air conduit and further via a throttle to a negative pressure source. According to a further embodiment, the second closure device includes a pneumatically controllable membrane, the control side of which is connected to the atmospheric air conduit and further via a throttle to a source of negative pressure. In the case of this embodiment, the provision of a fourth closure device in the atmospheric air inlet line, which can be closed in dependence on preselected time control means, makes it possible to control the stimulation phase in a particularly simple manner and to control the main milking phase. Periodic switching is achieved.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail below.

The pulsator 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a connecting pipe 2 to a negative pressure source, two conduits 3, 4 leading into the pulse chamber of a milking cup (not shown) and a conduit 5 for introducing atmospheric air. have. This pulsator has two pressure boxes 6 and 7 as its main components. The pressure box 6 is divided into two chambers 10 and 11 by a membrane 8, and the pressure box 7 is divided into two chambers 12 and 1 by a membrane 9.
It is divided into 3. The two membranes are interconnected at both ends by a rod 14 fixed approximately in the middle of the membranes. A slider 15 is attached to this rod 14. This slider 15 slides on a plate 16. Within the plate 16 are three rods extending parallel to each other and at right angles to the axis of the rod 14.
Three slots 17, 18 and 19 are formed. Of these, the two outer slots 17 and 19
and are respectively connected to conduits 3 and 4 extending into the pulse chamber, and the middle slot 18 is connected in a gas-tight manner to conduit 20. This conduit 20 communicates with a conduit 2 which extends to a negative pressure source (not shown).

Chamber 11 of pressure box 6 and chamber 12 of pressure box 7 are connected via conduits 21, 22 to a controller 23, which is known per se. This controller 2
3 communicates with the negative pressure source conduit 2 via a conduit 24. The remaining two chambers 10 and 13 are connected to each other via a connecting pipe 25. Connecting pipe 25
An adjustable throttle 26 is provided therein. This throttle 26 has a shape approximately compatible with an adjusting pin which projects into the connecting pipe and can be screwed into it. This adjustable throttle serves to vary the passage cross-section of the connecting pipe 25.

The pulsator described above is known if the atmospheric air conduit 5 is excluded.

According to the invention, conduit 2 and conduit 20 are interconnected in such a way that conduit 2 opens into an annular chamber 29 in control device 30 . Its annular chamber 29 opens on the same side as the end of the conduit 20 and both openings are closed by a membrane 31 when the membrane rests against a surface 32. When the membrane 31 is in the unarculated position, the end of the conduit 20 communicates with the annular chamber 29 and, via this, with the conduit 2. A passage opening 33 connecting the conduit 20 and the annular chamber 29 is provided parallel to this connection. The passage cross-sectional area 33 of this passage opening can be adjusted using an adjustment screw 34 having a conical surface 35 at its tip. This passage opening 33 cooperates with the adjusting screw 34 to form a negative pressure regulating valve.

Membrane 31 facing away from the end of conduit 20
Another chamber 36 is formed on this side, into which the atmospheric air conduit 5 opens. This atmospheric air conduit 5 is normally open. This conduit preferably consists of a flexible hose. This hose can be clamped by the end 37 of the lever 38, so that the end 37 is connected to the conduit 5.
When the flexible hose conduit 5 is pressed against the fixed abutment member 39, the flexible hose conduit 5 is closed. Lever 38 is part of a timer that can be preset to a predetermined elapsed time depending on the length of the stimulation phase. During the course of the set time, the lever 38 rotates counterclockwise as indicated by arrow 40, and at the end of the preset time the lever abuts the conduit 5.

The chamber 36 of the control device 30 is furthermore connected via a line 43 to a pneumatically actuated hose clamp 44 . The hose clamp 44 consists of a pressure box 45 which is divided into two chambers by a membrane 46. A conduit 43 opens into one chamber 47 . The other chamber 48 is open to the atmosphere. This is because the hook 49 extends through the wall of the box and is fixed to the membrane 46. At its curved end, the hook 49 connects to the bypass pipe 5, which is formed as a flexible hose.
I'm grabbing 0. Bypass pipe 50 is connected to connecting pipe 25
forming a detour for the adjustable throttle 26 within. Bypass pipe 50 may be provided with its own adjustable throttle 71.

A communication channel 53 connecting the conduit 2 and the chamber 36 is further provided in the control device 30, in which a throttle 54 having a substantially smaller cross-sectional area than the conduit 5 is arranged.

The operation of the above-mentioned pulsator will be explained next.

To begin the stimulation phase, turn lever 38 clockwise to set timer 52 for the scheduled stimulation time. At this time, the conduit 5 is opened. Therefore, the interior of the chamber 36 of the control device 30 is at atmospheric pressure, and the interior of the chamber 47 of the pneumatic hose clamp 44 is also under atmospheric pressure through the conduit 43. In this state, the hose clamp 44 opens the bypass path 50.
Furthermore, the membrane 31 in the control device 30 is exposed to atmospheric pressure on one side and under negative pressure via the conduit 2 on the other side. The membrane is thus deflected in an arc to contact surface 32. The direct passage from conduit 2 through annular chamber 29 to conduit 20 is thus closed. In this state, therefore, negative pressure can only enter the conduit 20 from the conduit 2 via the annular chamber 29 and the passage opening 33 and from the conduit 20 further through the slit 18 alternately into the pulse conduit 3. 4 can be reached.

For correct operation of the control device 23, it is important that it is connected directly to the line 2 leading to the source of negative pressure, and not to the line 20. Negative pressure from a negative pressure source which is controlled in conduit 2 by means of control device 23 is introduced via conduit 24 alternately through conduit 22 into chamber 12 or through conduit 21 into chamber 11 . Correspondingly, the membranes 8 and 9 and the rod 14 fixed to them are swung alternately to the left and to the right. pressure box 6
The fluids present in the chamber 10 of the pressure box 7 and the chamber 13 of the pressure box 7 can be balanced in this case via the connecting pipe 25 and in particular via the bypass pipe 50, which is open at this time. Since the bypass 50 is open, this balancing takes place very quickly. A very high reciprocating movement of the rod 20, ie a high pulsation frequency, is thus achieved. A throttle 71 in the adjustable bypass 50 allows the pulse frequency during the stimulation phase to be set to the desired value. When the rod 14 reciprocates, the slider 15 fixed to this rod is also reciprocated. When the slider is in the left-hand end position shown, this allows slots 17 and 18 to communicate with each other and negative pressure from conduit 20 can reach pulsator conduit 3. On the other hand, atmospheric pressure can reach the pulsator conduit 4 via the open slot 19. On the other hand, when the rod 14 is in its right-hand end position, the slider communicates the slots 18 and 19 in the plate 16, so that the negative pressure from the conduit 20 enters the pulsator conduit 4, which is then released. slot 1
Atmospheric pressure enters the pulsator conduit 3 via 7.

By adjusting the size of the passage 33, the conduit 2
The rate at which the underpressure is built up in 0 and at the same time the level that the underpressure can reach is determined. In this way, it is possible to accurately set the rising gradient with respect to time when the negative pressure in the pulse chamber rises. The setting of the downward slope of the pulse waveform, as shown in detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, can be effected in a similar manner by regulating the atmospheric air introduced into the slits 17 and 19. Since such a device is easy to manufacture, further detailed description will be omitted.

At the end of the stimulation phase time set by the timer 52, the end 37 of the lever 38 is connected to the connecting tube 5.
of the hose, thereby constricting the hose and cutting off the atmospheric inlet air. From this point on, negative pressure from conduit 2 is built up in chamber 36 of control device 30 via throttle 54 .
As soon as the negative pressure level in the chamber 36 reaches the same level as in the conduit 2, the membrane 31 is in an undistracted position. This creates a communication path with a large cross-sectional area from the conduit 2 through the annular chamber 29 to the vacuum conduit 20. As a result, each switching of the slider 15 results in a relatively short period of time in which a high vacuum builds up in the conduit 3 or 4 and thus in the corresponding pulse chamber of the milking cup. At this time,
The level of that negative pressure in the suction phase corresponds to the milking vacuum at that time.

While negative pressure is being created in chamber 36 of control device 30, it is also transmitted via conduit 43 to chamber 47.
and deflects the membrane 46 upwardly as seen in FIG. This pulls the hook 49 upward.
The hook thus forces the hose 50 against the outer surface of the pneumatic hose clamp. The hose is then tightened and the bypass 50 is closed. In this state, therefore, the pressure equalization between chambers 10 and 13 of pressure boxes 6 and 7 now takes place via conduit 25 and adjustable throttle 26. The throttle 26 is preadjusted to allow the pulsator to oscillate at a frequency of approximately 60 cycles per minute. This frequency is the regular pulse frequency during the main milking stage.

As described above, the pulsator according to the invention makes it possible to accurately set the milking parameters during the stimulation phase and, at the same time, to automatically switch over to the milking parameters during the main milking phase after a predetermined period of time has elapsed from the stimulation phase.

The control device 30 does not necessarily include the conduit 2 leading to the source of negative pressure.
There is no need to place it inside. One such control device may be provided in each of the pulsator conduits 3 and 4 (alternating phase drive). In the case of in-phase drive, it would be necessary to provide a single control device common to all pulsator conduits. The advantage of this configuration is that existing pulsators can be used with virtually no modification.

2 and 3 show the variation of the pressure in the pulse chamber of the milking cup during the stimulation phase.
The pulsation of the milking cup is controlled by the parameters shown in FIG.

In FIG. 2, the vertical axis is the negative pressure in the pulse chamber in KPa. A value of 0 is atmospheric pressure.
The 50KPa line indicates the level of negative pressure that is constantly applied inside the teat rubber during the main milking phase and is applied to the pulse chamber as a maximum value during the suction phase.
Looking at one cycle of pulse negative pressure during the stimulation phase, starting from point P1, where atmospheric pressure prevails in the pulse chamber, the negative pressure increases continuously and reaches a maximum value of 24 KPa at point P2. After reaching this maximum negative pressure, the negative pressure decreases again continuously and becomes atmospheric pressure again at time P3. As is clear from the curve, the increase in negative pressure from time P1 to P2 and the increase in negative pressure from time P2 to P
The manner of decreasing the negative pressure up to 3 is almost the same. That is, the slope of the rising side 61 of the curve 60 is
substantially coincides with the slope of the descending side 62 of . Furthermore, this gradient is relatively small. This means that no sudden pressure changes occur in the pulse chamber during each cycle, and therefore no large impulses are applied to the nipple during each cycle.

Furthermore, as can be seen from curve 60, the maximum negative pressure in the pulse chamber only exists for a very short time, ie during the time of point P2. As already mentioned above, the pressure difference between the pressure inside the nipple rubber and the negative pressure in the pulse chamber determines the minimum clamping force at the nipple tip during each pulse cycle, taking into account the folding pressure of the nipple rubber. The longer a very slight clamping force is applied to the nipple tip, the more milk will flow out when negative pressure is applied inside the nipple rubber. By ensuring that the maximum negative pressure in the pulse chamber always appears only for a very short time,
In fact, the milk drawn from the teat can be controlled very precisely and very little milk can be kept drawn. Overall, this makes it possible to keep the intramammary pressure at the desired value during the stimulation phase. The curve 60 shown in FIG. 2 is a pulse curve with a frequency of 200 cycles/minute. This pulse frequency has been found to be very suitable for stimulation.

FIG. 3 shows a pulse curve similar to FIG. 2. In this case, there is 43% inside the nipple rubber during stimulation.
A negative pressure of KPa was maintained. The negative pressure in the pulse chamber was controlled to vary periodically between atmospheric pressure and a maximum negative pressure of 22.5 KPa, corresponding to curve 70. Again, for this curve, the rising and falling sides of the curve during one cycle have approximately the same slope and are relatively flat. The maximum negative pressure of 22.5KPa is maintained only for a very short time as before. The frequency of the pulse is
It was 240 cycles/min. This condition was found to be particularly favorable for the stimulation phase. FIG. 3 also shows a curve 80 as a dashed line for comparison. This curve corresponds to the pulse curve conventionally used during the main milking phase. Maximum negative pressure is 50PKa
The pulse frequency was 60 cycles/min, and the suction phase was longer than the release phase.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the pulsator. With this pulsator, the milking parameters during the stimulation phase and during the main milking phase are controlled by electrical control.

A first solenoid valve 91 is disposed within the conduit 90 extending from the negative pressure source. The outlet conduit 92 of this first solenoid valve 91 is connected via a second solenoid valve 93 to a conduit 94 extending into the pulse chamber. The first electromagnetic valve 91 has an anchor 95, and a valve plate 96 is formed at the lower end of the anchor. The valve plate 96 is a magnet 97
When excited, it is attracted toward the valve seat 99 against the force of the spring 98. Note that spring 98 holds the solenoid valve in the open position when it is inactive.
When attracted as described above, the solenoid valve 91
0 and conduit 92.

A solenoid valve 91 connecting the conduit 90 and the conduit 92
An adjustable throttle 101 is provided in the passage 100 that bypasses the.

The connection path connecting the conduits 92 and 94 can be closed by a second solenoid valve 93. The anchor 102 of this second solenoid valve 93 is also provided with a valve plate 1 at its lower end.
It has 03. This anchor is biased towards the valve seat 105 by a spring 104. As long as the magnetic coil 106 of the solenoid valve 93 is not energized, the communication path between the conduits 92 and 94 is therefore closed.

Anchor 102 has an upwardly open blind hole 107 parallel to its axis. A horizontal hole 108 opens into this blind hole. When the magnetic coil 106 is not energized and the solenoid valve is closed, the opening of the transverse hole 108 is in direct communication with the conduit 94. In response, magnet coil 106 is energized and anchor 102 is energized.
is in the raised position, the horizontal hole 108
The outer opening of is sealed by a tube sleeve 109. As anchor 102 moves vertically in the drawing in FIG. 4, it is guided by sleeve 109. Therefore, the magnetic coil 10
6 is in the energized state, the valve plate 103 is connected to the conduit 92.
Open the passage between and 94.

The operation of the pulsator shown in FIG. 4 is as follows.

Set the adjustable throttle to the desired flow rate before starting stimulation. The coil 27 is energized and the first solenoid valve 91 is closed. During the stimulation phase, the solenoid valve 93 is therefore actuated at the desired pulse frequency;
This solenoid valve opens and closes with its desired pulse frequency. Each time this second solenoid valve 93 closes, communication between conduit 94 via conduit 92 and conduit 100 (which has conduit 90 communicating with a negative pressure source, not shown) is interrupted. be done. but,
When the second solenoid valve is in this position, the horizontal hole 10
Openings 8 are free from tube sleeve 109. In this way, the conduit 9 via the lateral hole 108
4 and the blind hole 107 is formed. Since the blind hole 107 has atmospheric pressure, atmospheric pressure is introduced into the conduit 94. When coil 106 is energized, anchor 102 is attracted into the magnet. As a result, the opening of the horizontal hole 108 is closed by the sleeve 109. At the same time, the valve plate 103
05, conduit 94 immediately communicates with conduit 90 via conduits 92 and 100. Since a throttle 101 is present in the conduit 100, the desired negative pressure is slowly built up in the conduit 94 in response to the passage cross-sectional area reduced by the throttle. This makes it possible to arbitrarily and accurately set the slope of the rising side of the pulse curve from atmospheric pressure to the desired negative pressure. The slope of the downward curve from maximum pulse negative pressure back to atmospheric pressure can be similarly controlled by providing an adjustable throttle at the upper end of tube sleeve 109.

The frequency at which the second solenoid valve 93 is vibrated is 90 to
It can be 400 cycles/min.

When switching from the stimulation stage to the main milking stage, the electromagnetic coil 97 is deenergized and the electromagnetic valve 91 is opened. This creates the main communication path between conduit 90 and conduit 92, which in turn builds up sufficient negative pressure in the pulse chamber more quickly. At the same time, the vibration frequency of the second solenoid valve 93 is reduced to the customary frequency of 60 cycles/min for the main milking phase.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a pulsator constructed in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 2 is a curve showing an example of the change in negative pressure in the pulse chamber over time, with negative pressure in kilopascals (KPa) plotted on the vertical axis and time plotted on the horizontal axis. (Constant negative pressure inside the nipple rubber 50KPa; maximum negative pressure inside the pulse chamber 24KPa; frequency 200 cycles/min). Figure 3 is a curve similar to Figure 2, and the operating value is the constant negative pressure inside the nipple rubber.
43KPa; maximum negative pressure in the pulse chamber 22.5KPa, frequency
The pulse negative pressure waveform at 240 cycles/min is shown. For comparison, the standard pulse curve during the main milking phase is additionally shown as a dashed line. Fourth
The Figure is a schematic illustration of a pulsator according to the invention whose operation is similar to that of Figure 1 but is electrically controlled. [Explanation of symbols of main parts], 1...pulsator,
2... Main pipe introduced into the negative pressure source, 5... Atmospheric air introduction pipe, 15-19... Switching device, 23...
...Controller, 26...Adjustable throttle, 30
... thin film valve, 31, 32 ... first occlusion device, 3
3...first adjustable passage opening, 37-39...
...Fourth closure device, 44...Second closure device, 4
6...Pneumatically controllable thin film, 50...Bypass pipe, 52...Preselection time controller (timer),
54... Throttle, 71... Second adjustable throttle, 91, 93... First and second solenoid valves, 94... Pulsator conduit, 100... Bypass.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Negative pressure of a predetermined height is applied to the milking cup attached to the teat for milking, and the nipple rubber is pulsated with a predetermined frequency and intensity in some cases. In a mechanical milking method in which the teat to which the milking cup is attached is stimulated for a predetermined period of time before the main milking stage, milking is not performed for 40 to 90 seconds, preferably 40 to 60 seconds after the start of the stimulation stage. A method characterized in that milking is started immediately after the milking and the above-mentioned time period has elapsed. 2. Mechanical milking method according to claim 1, characterized in that a stimulation action is applied to the teat only during a part of the stimulation phase. 3 Stimulation is applied to the nipple for about 30 seconds and
A mechanical milking method according to claim 2, characterized in that milking is started after an interruption of 10 to 30 seconds. 4. In the mechanical milking method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which uses a two-chamber milking cup, the negative pressure in the pulsator conduit during the other suction phase during the stimulation phase is used as the other suction phase. A method characterized in that the nipple rubber is reduced to such an extent that it can be opened without milk coming out. 5. Mechanical milking method according to claim 4, characterized in that the reduction of the negative pressure in the pulsator conduit is carried out by limiting the negative pressure using a negative pressure limiting valve. 6. Mechanical milking method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that pressurized air is introduced into the intermediate chamber of the milking cup during each negative pressure release phase during the stimulation stage. 7. Claims characterized in that during the stimulation stage, a pulsating overpressure is applied to the intermediate chamber of the milking cup, and no negative pressure or only a very small negative pressure is applied to the interior of the nipple rubber. A mechanical milking method according to any one of items 1 to 6. 8. Mechanical milking method according to claim 7, characterized in that the overpressure is a pulsating overpressure of between about 1.2 bar and about 1.7 bar. 9. A mechanical milking method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the pulsator frequency during the stimulation stage is increased compared to the milking stage. 10. A mechanical milking method according to claim 9, characterized in that the pulsator frequency is increased to about 100 to 170 cycles/min. 11. In the mechanical milking method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 using a single-chamber milking cup, a negative pressure is applied that merely holds the milking cup on the teat during the stimulation phase, and A method characterized in that stimulation is performed by applying electrical impulses of 5 to 70 Hz to the nipple. 12 Negative pressure of a predetermined height is applied to the inside of the milking cup attached to the teat for milking, and the nipple rubber is pulsated with a predetermined frequency and intensity, and the milking cup is attached to the teat. a mechanical milking method in which a stimulation effect is applied during a stimulation phase for a predetermined period of time before the main milking stage, wherein during the stimulation stage the pulsation of the milking rubber has a frequency that is at least 50% higher than the frequency of the main milking stage; and during this period the maximum pulse negative pressure in the pulse chamber of the milking cup depends on the negative pressure inside the nipple rubber and the folding pressure of the nipple rubber and is expressed by the following formula: Pulse negative pressure (stimulation stage) = The method is characterized in that the method is selected to be within the range given by 6+negative pressure in the nipple rubber/3+folding pressure of the nipple rubber/4±5 [KPa]. 13 A negative pressure of a predetermined height is applied inside a single-chamber milking cup attached to a teat for milking, and the teat to which the milking cup is attached is subjected to a stimulation phase for a predetermined time before the main milking phase. In mechanical milking methods in which stimulation is applied, during the stimulation phase a pulse volume at the upper edge of the single-chamber milking cup is pulsed with a frequency at least 50% higher than in the main milking phase and during this period the A method characterized in that the negative pressure inside the nipple rubber is limited to 18 to 25 KPa. 14. Claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the stimulation phase lasts between 40 and 90 seconds.
Mechanical milking method according to section. 15 Pulsation of the nipple rubber during the stimulation stage is 140~
15. Mechanical milking method according to any of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that it is carried out at a frequency of 280, preferably 160 to 220 cycles/min. 16. A mechanical milking method according to any one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that the stimulation action is applied to the teat only during a predetermined time portion of the stimulation phase. 17. Any of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that the rise and fall of the negative pressure in the pulse chamber of the milking cup is controlled in such a way that each substantially constant rise and fall of the negative pressure occurs during the stimulation phase. Mechanical milking method. 18. Mechanical milking method according to claim 17, characterized in that the rise and fall of the negative pressure have substantially the same time course. 19. Any one of claims 12 to 18, characterized in that as soon as the negative pressure in the pulse chamber of the milking cup reaches a predetermined level, the negative pressure is switched from increasing to decreasing. Mechanical milking method. 20. Claims 12 or 14 to 19, characterized in that the control of the maximum negative pressure in the pulse chamber during the stimulation phase is carried out using a negative pressure control valve communicating with the pulsator conduit. Mechanical milking method according to any of paragraphs. 21 The pulse negative pressure determined by the formula in claim 12 during the stimulation phase and the
21. Mechanical milking method according to any one of claims 12 to 20, characterized in that a pulsed pressure is applied to the pulse chamber with an overpressure in the range of 15 KPa. 22 A pulsator with two membranes connected to each other by a connecting rod is connected on one side with a negative pressure source and on the other side with a pulsator conduit guided into the pulse chamber of the milking cup. The membrane each divides one pressure box into two chambers, one chamber of one pressure box and one chamber of the other pressure box being connected to each other via an optionally adjustable throttle. and the remaining two chambers are alternately connectable to said negative pressure source via a control member and one or two groups of said pulsator conduits are alternately connected to said negative pressure source. And in a mechanical milking device in which the connecting rod is provided with a switching device for connecting with the introduced air of the atmosphere,
a shunt having a first adjustable flow port is provided in the main conduit extending to the negative pressure source; a bypass bypassing the adjustable throttle; a second branch in the bypass; an adjustable throttle is provided, and a first closure device is provided in the main conduit, which is closable during the stimulation phase bypassed by the shunt, and in the bypass, which is closable during the main milking phase. A mechanical milking device, characterized in that it is provided with a second closure device. 23. Device according to claim 22, characterized in that the control member extends to the source of negative pressure and is connected directly to the main conduit. 24. A closure device is provided in the conduit introducing atmospheric inlet air into the switching device of the pulsator, which is closable during the third stimulation phase, and a second adjustable closure device is provided in the second branch bypassing the closure device. Claim 22, characterized in that a flow port is provided.
Apparatus according to either paragraph or paragraph 23. 25. Claims characterized in that the first closing device in the main conduit is constructed by a membrane valve, the control side of which is connected to a negative pressure source via an atmospheric air introduction conduit and a throttle. 22nd
Apparatus according to any of paragraphs 24 to 24. 26. Claims 22 to 26, characterized in that the second closure device includes a pneumatically controllable thin membrane, the control side of which is connected to a source of negative pressure via a conduit for introducing atmospheric air and a throttle. 25
Equipment according to any of the clauses. 27. Claim 25, characterized in that a closing device is provided in the atmospheric air conduit which is closable as a function of the fourth preselected time control means.
Apparatus according to paragraph or paragraph 26. 28 In a mechanical milking device having a pulsator connected on one side to a source of negative pressure and on the other side to a pulsator conduit leading to the pulse chamber of the milking cup, in a passage extending from the source of negative pressure to the pulsator conduit, first and second solenoid valves are disposed, an adjustable throttle is provided in a bypass path bypassing the first solenoid valve, and the second solenoid valve is in its first position. in a second position, closing the connection between the negative pressure source and the pulsator conduit and communicating the pulsator conduit to the atmosphere; and in a second position, closing the connection between the negative pressure source and the pulsator conduit and communicating the pulsator conduit with the atmosphere; A mechanical milking device characterized by cutting off the connection of. 29. Claim 2, characterized in that the second solenoid valve is switchable between its first and second positions with a frequency of up to 400 cycles/min.
Apparatus according to paragraph 8. 30. Claims 28 or 29, characterized in that time control means are provided which are able to hold the first solenoid valve in its closed position during the stimulation phase and in its open position during the main milking phase. Device according to section.