WO2005067700A2

WO2005067700A2 - Improvements in or relating to milking systems

Info

Publication number: WO2005067700A2
Application number: PCT/GB2005/000138
Authority: WO
Inventors: William Shaw Marshall
Original assignee: Chambers Bros (Farm Appliances) Ltd
Priority date: 2004-01-17
Filing date: 2005-01-17
Publication date: 2005-07-28
Also published as: GB2425241B; GB2425241A; WO2005067700A3; GB0616272D0; GB0401018D0

Abstract

A milking system and method for identifying problems in individual milking stations or teat cups within a milking parlour. Liners used within the cups are tagged and following use, the inner surface of liners are inspected. From an examination of the inner surface a score is determined, the score being indicative of one or more problems associated with the teat cup or milking station on which the liner was used. Corrective measures can then be implemented on the individual station and thus maintain the udder health of the animal and the quantity and quality of milk production.

Description

Improvements In or Relating to Milking Systems The present invention relates to milking systems as used primarily in diary farming and in particular, though not exclusively, to a process for scoring the surface of liners to identify problems in the system with the purpose of improving udder health and milk quality. In a typical milking system, often referred to as a parlour, a number of milking stations are arranged so that animals can be milked at each station in parallel. To milk an animal, a cluster of teat cups are attached to the animals udder. By varying pressure to the teat cups the udder are massaged and the milk released.

Within each teat cup is a liner, typically made of rubber. The liner is the only part of the milking system that comes in contact with the animal. As a result the inner surface of the liners degrade over time causing discomfort to the animal and are susceptible to transmitting infections between animals and into the milk. Additionally the inner surface of the liner can be affected by incorrect use of chemicals, washing procedure and plant problems e.g. the vacuum system, so producing an increase in the risk of infection, a reduction in udder health, inefficient milk extraction and a decline in milk quality and quantity. Milk is typically tested monthly by the milk buyers. The milk test is based on the quality of the milk (Bactoscan) and the udder health of the cows (Somatic Cell Count - SCC) • Higher SCC impairs the quality of the milk and therefore the price the farmer gets for the milk. Once the SCC exceeds a specific level, e.g a count of 400, the farmer will be penalised by receiving a reduced price for his milk. Should the SCC continue to be high the milk buyer may refuse to take milk and the farmer will have to dispose of it. It is also known that a reduction in udder health can lead to mastitis. This infection can spread across the herd and is costly to treat as the infected animals must be milked separately and the milk disposed of.

Currently, the liners are replaced when they split or tear; when the milk test shows a marked decrease in quality; when visible problems are detected on animals teats or after the number of milkings recommended by the liner manufacturer. The general recommendations for changing liners are 1,000-1,200 for synthetic rubber, 500-700 for more natural rubber and 5,000 to 10,000 for silicon types.

The main disadvantage of these solutions to the problem of reduced udder health and milk quality is that the cause of the problems may not exist in the liner itself, but in the processes used with the liner e.g. incorrect cleaning and operating procedures . These techniques relate directly to the milking stations . Further the solutions currently in use do not identify which milking station may be infected or requires maintenance to correct the processes. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of identify problems in milking stations. It is a further object of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide a method of identify problems in a milking station and/or individual teat cup from a milking parlour. It is a yet further object of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide a liner scoring system for the determination of problems in an associated milking station.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of identifying problems in milking stations where liners are used within teat cups, the method comprising the steps: (a) inspecting an inner surface of the liner following use of the liner; (b) from an examination of the surface, providing an indication of a problem in the milking station.

By inspecting the liners in a milking station potential faults can be identified in the milking stations. In this way, preventative measures can ^'be made to prevent degradation in milk quality and in udder health. Preferably, the method includes the step of removing the liner from the teat cup prior to inspection. The liner may then be split to aid inspection. Alternatively the liner may be inspected in-situ on its teat cup. Preferably inspection of the liner is achieved by visual means. This may be by eye. Alternatively, the visual means may be by camera or other spectroscopic detector. Optionally, inspection may be achieved through contact on the inner surface of the liner. Preferably the changes are identified by the number of and/or type of characteristics recognised on the surface. Such characteristics may be colour change, surface roughness, abrasions or lesions, thinning portions or the like.

In a preferred embodiment, the changes are categorised to provide a score. The score will then, advantageously, correlate to a problem or problems in the associated milking station.

Preferably an overall score is provided which is indicative of one or more defects. Additionally, a score may be provided which indicates that there are no problems. Scores may be grouped into a 'PASS' or 'FAIL' with a pass requiring no intervention or repair to the milking station and a fail requiring intervention.

Preferably the method includes the step of adjusting or repairing the milking station to correct the problem. Preferably the method includes the step of coding the liners to correlate a particular milking station in a milking parlour with each liner. A particular milking station can therefore be identified if the liners are removed for inspection. In this way, a problem can be isolated to an individual milking station and thus only that station requires maintenance. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a milking system comprising one or more milking stations at which animals are milked, one or more clusters for location on an animals udder at each station; each cluster including liners, and characterised in that the system includes one or more inspection means for inspecting an inner surface of one or more of said liners. Preferably the inspection means is by a visual detector. The visual detector may be a camera or other spectroscopic detector. Optionally, the inspection means may be a surface contact device which includes a probe to contact the surface of the liner.

Preferably at least a portion of the inspection means is adapted to enter a teat cup of a milking station. In this way the liners can be inspected in-situ. In an alternative embodiment the liner is placed into the inspection means remote from the teat cup.

The system may further comprise visual display means to show an operator the inner surface of a liner. The system may include a processor for determining a score based on the surface conditions of the liner. The score may provide an output for the operator to indicate problems in a milking station from which the liner is located. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a flow chart illustrating a method of identifying problems in milking stations according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a milking parlour according to an embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of an arrangements at a teat cup according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

Reference is initially made to Figure 1 of the drawings, which illustrates a flow chart, generally indicated by reference numeral 10, for a method of identifying problems in milking stations, according to an embodiment of the present invention. While the description will refer to dairy farming where cows are milked, it will be appreciated that the invention could find equal application for milking of any animal.

Initially a liner is coded 12 so that if it is removed from a milking station, the precise milking station it was used on can be identified. The liner may also be coded to identify the individual teat cup which it was used with. Those skilled in^' the art will appreciate that many coding systems are available e.g. by colour or alphanumeric references and tagging. Coded liners 12 are then located in the teat cups 14 in any number of milking stations 16 within a milking parlour or other dairy unit. Cows are then introduced for milking in the standard way 18. The liners will be repeatedly used 20 with the number of milkings performed being monitored. At any time, but preferably at liner change out time, the liners are inspected 22. Liner change out time occurs when the liners have been used for the maximum number of milkings recommended by the liner manufacturer. In a first embodiment of the present invention, when the clusters at each of the stations are removed for cleaning and refurbishment the spent liners are removed for inspection. Each liner is split open to expose the inner surface which has been in contact with the cows udder. The surface is examined for changes in relation to an unused liner or irregularities and other characteristics of the surface. The individual liner is given a score 24 which is based on categorising the surface.

An example of a scoring system is: A = surface of liner is in line with manufacturers expectations (i.e. visibly clean with no mineral deposits) . B = surface of liner has been subjected to over dosage of corrosive chemicals, which accelerate the degrading of the surface of the liner and therefore affects its performance. However, the liner surface is visibly clean with no mineral deposits. C = surface of the liner has visible signs of mineral deposits. This will affect the performance of the liner. Deposits will hold bacteria which could lead to udder health problems. D = surface of liner has excessive mineral deposits, which can accelerate the affects of ' C and ultimately could lead to loss of milk production if not corrected. A score of 'A' may be considered as a PASS and the liner will be replaced according to manufacturers recommendations . The farmer will be informed that the milking station on which this liner was fitted has no problems. It will be appreciated that the scores for all liners from a single milking station will be compared to form an overall opinion or score for that milking station. A score unique to a single liner may then indicate a problem associated with an individual teat cup which should also be reported.

A score of ^ΛB' indicates that there is a potential problem 26 with the chemicals or their quantities used at the associated milking station. It may still score as a PASS but could be noted for later treatment. Dependent on what the farmer is using chemicals for, these can be checked at the station and the amounts, dilutions or the like, altered to correct the problem 28.

A score of ^XC indicates a potential future problem of infection. Mineral deposits seen on the surface will allow bacteria to settle and could effect the health of the cows udder. In particular, the liner will more easily transmit infections between cows. A farmer receiving this score will need to check the cleaning and disinfecting procedures at the station. A score of 'D' requires immediate intervention to prevent the risk of mastitis developing in a cow and being transmitted to the rest of the herd via a liner. The problem would be corrected in a similar manner to 'C. The following main areas have been recognised as being identifiable from poor internal liner surface: Incorrect use of chemicals i.e. under dosing chemicals and over dosing chemicals. Poor Bactoscan results can be disguised with increased use of corrosive chemicals such as hypo chlorite. However, this is not correcting the problem; Water quality particularly in relation to determining correct chemical dosage; Plant problems such as blockages in vacuum lines or disinfecting lines; Plant not washing correctly or incorrect washing procedures such as water temperature incorrect or circulating water too long. It will be appreciated that other scores could be given relating to other problems which may be experienced at the milking station.

In an alternative embodiment, the examination of the surface may merely identify any changes. A 'pass' would be recorded for a liner which is visibly clean, while a 'fail' would indicate that the farmer needed to check the station. Without providing an indication to what the problem may be, the farmer would then undertake a full inspection of the milking station. This embodiment provides a quicker procedure as an analysis of the surface is not required.

Reference is now made to Figure 2 of the drawings which illustrates a milking parlour, generally indicated by reference numeral 30, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Milking parlour 30 comprises twelve production milking work stations 32a-l, arranged in parallel. Each station 32 includes a cluster 34, having four teat cups 36a-d. A liner 38a-d is located into each teat cup 36a-d. Each liner 38a-d is individually coded to indicate which teat cup 36a-d and milking station 32a-l it has been fitted to. Besides the coding, all parts of the milking station 32a-d are as found on standard milking parlours. Thus cleaning/disinfecting systems 40a- 1, vacuum systems 42a-l and the like are fitted at each station 32. Common facilities 44 to all the stations may also be provided. Connected to, or remote from, as indicated by the dotted line 46, is a liner inspection system, generally indicated by reference numeral 48. Liners 38 are presented to a camera or other detector 50. An image is collected which can be viewed on a display 52 for a user to score. Alternatively a processor will compare the collected image with a stored database of images 56. The database will comprise images collected from previously used liners whose characteristics have been labelled for the purposes of scoring. In this way, each liner 38 presented to the inspection unit can be automatically scored.

For the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the liners 38 will be removed from the teat cups 36 for inspection. The liners 36 will be opened so that the entire inner surface 58 can be viewed or imaged. It will be appreciated that while 50 is indicated as a camera, it may be any type of detector capable of identifying characteristics^' and changes on the surface of the liner 38. For example a probe may contact the surface to gauge roughness . Alternatively a laser could scan the surface to obtain depth profiles. Such techniques are known to those skilled in the art. In an alternative embodiment, as illustrated in Figure 3, the liners are not removed from the teat cups 38 and are thus inspected in-situ. This arrangement allows for the liners to be scored at more regular intervals than merely at change out time. This would provide an earlier warning of potential problems. In Figure 3, the liners 38 remain in the teat cups 36 in their standard location for milking. With the udder removed from the inside surface 58 of the liner 38, the camera 50, or other probe can be introduced into the teat cup 36. It will be appreciated that the teat cup 36 may be held stationary and the probe 50 inserted therein. Alternatively the teat cup 36 can be moved over the probe 50. Probe 50 collects an image of the inner surface 58 of the liner 38. Any washing or disinfecting process can be applied to the liner before viewing if required.

The image 60 acquired of the surface will be treated as described hereinbefore with reference to the inspection system 48 of Figure 2. Thus a score will be obtained for the liner 38. It will be appreciated that the entire process can be automated so that an alarm or indicator can be given when the score for a milking station 32 is deemed as a FAIL. The milking station can be put off-line while maintenance is carried out to correct the problems identified from the score. The system thus provides a feedback loop to identify and help correct problems in the parlour to maintain udder health and milk quality.

The principal advantage of the present invention is that it provides a method and apparatus to identify problems in milking systems with the purpose of improving udder health and milk quality. The invention examines used liners to identify problems in individual milking stations. Thus problems within the stations can be remedied over the prior art which merely replaced the liners, while the underlying problems within the stations where not considered.

The main benefits to dairy farming, of embodiments of the present invention, are seen as : -

(a) providing both an indication of a problem and a recommended solution; (b) giving an early identification of potential risk to udder health before it is identified by present milk tests; (c) giving an early indication of potential drop in milk quality before it is identified in present milk tests; and (d) isolating a problem to an individual work station and therefore (i) reducing engineers labour costs in rectifying the problem and (ii) allowing the other work stations to be used to maintain milk production while the problem is solved; (e) giving an early identification of potential problems and thus reduces risk of passing on infections in herd; and ( f ) by rectifying problems , the improved udder health can help increase milk yield and improve the quality of milk.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made to the invention hereindescribed without departing from the scope thereof. For example, liner inspection can be performed as part of a cluster refurbishment program. Coding of the liners may be done on removal of the liners from the teat cups instead of when they are fitted.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A method of identifying problems in milking stations where liners are used within teat cups, the method comprising the steps: (a) inspecting an inner surface of the liner following use of the liner; and (b) from an examination of the surface, providing an indication of a problem in the milking station in which the liner was used.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the method includes the step of removing the liner from the teat cup prior to inspection.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the liner is split to aid inspection.

4. A method as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the liner is inspected in-situ on its teat cup.

5. A method as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein inspection of the liner is achieved by visual means.

6. A method as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the visual means is a camera.

7. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein inspection is achieved through contact on the inner surface of the liner.

8. A method as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein examination is achieved noting changes on the liner surface identified by the number of and/or type of characteristics recognised on the surface.

9. A method as claimed in Claim 8 wherein the changes are categorised to provide a score, the score representing a problem or problems in the associated milking station.

10. A method as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the method includes the step of adjusting or repairing the milking station to correct the problem.

11. A method as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the method includes the step of coding the liners to correlate a particular milking station in a milking parlour with each liner.

12. A milking system comprising one or more milking stations at which animals are milked, one or more clusters for location on an animals udder at each station; each cluster including liners, and characterised in that the system includes one or more inspection means for inspecting an inner surface of one or more of said liners.

13. A milking system as claimed in Claim 12 wherein the inspection means is a visual detector.

14. A milking system as claimed in Claim 12 wherein the inspection means is a surface contact device which includes a probe to contact the surface of the liner.

15. A milking system as claimed in any one of Claims 12 to 14 wherein at least a portion of the inspection means is adapted to enter a teat cup of a milking station.

16. A milking system as claimed in any one of Claims 12 to 14 wherein each liner is placed into the inspection means remote from the teat cup.

17. A milking system as claimed in any one of Claims 12 to 16 wherein the system further comprises visual display means to show an operator the inner surface of a liner.

18. A milking system as claimed in any one of Claims 12 to 17 wherein the system includes a processor for determining a score based on the surface conditions of the liner, the score providing an output for the operator to indicate problem (s) in a milking station from which the liner is located.