Milk channels and feed ports coupled thereto, and systems and methods associated therewith

Abstract

An apparatus including a milk channel is disclosed. The milk channel has a first component and a second component, wherein a first value of at least one optical property of the first component is different from a second value of an optical property of the second component.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a milk meter system including a milk meter having a milk channel and a feed port coupled thereto, and a system and method for conserving cleaning fluid during cleaning of the milk meter system. Background Art

[0002] A milk meter in a milk meter system measures the amount of milk extracted from a non-human mammal (e.g., cows, sheep, goats, etc.) during a milking period. For example, food safety and public health regulations require that the milk meter system be cleaned regularly to avoid accumulation of milk mud and / or bacteria in the milk meter system. To clean the milk meter system, water or a cleaning fluid must be heated and then flowed through the milk meter system. One object of the present disclosure is to ensure that the milk meter system is cleaned while conserving resources, such as water, cleaning fluid, electricity, and / or power.

[0003] References that are believed to be relevant in the context of the presently disclosed subject matter are listed below. Identification of references herein should not be inferred as an intention that these references are in any way relevant to the patentability of the presently disclosed subject matter.

[0004] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2021 / 0262869 (“Pinsky et al.”), published on August 26, 2021, discloses a monitoring milk meter capable of monitoring livestock being milked, as well as general procedures performed in a milking barn, such as clean-in-place (CIP) procedures. Summary of the invention

[0005] According to a first aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided an apparatus comprising a milk channel having a first component and a second component, wherein a first value of at least one optical property of the first component is different from a second value of the optical property of the second component.

[0006] In some cases, at least one cross-section of the milk channel includes four sides, wherein a first side of the side is substantially opposite a second side of the side, wherein the first side and the second side are each a rectangular cross-section, and wherein a second portion of the milk channel includes a first window and a second window, the first window being at least a portion of the first side of the side and the second window being at least a second portion of the second side of the side.

[0007] In some cases, the milk channel is a straight milk channel.

[0008] According to a second aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a feed opening configured to be coupled to a milk passage of a milk hose and a milk meter, the feed opening comprising: an elbow having a first end and a second end, the first end having a first opening so that a fluid flowing through the milk hose can enter the elbow, and the second end having a second opening for allowing the fluid to leave the elbow and enter the milk passage, wherein an angle of curvature between the first end and the second end is less than about 90 degrees.

[0009] In some cases, the feed port is configured to be coupled to the milk hose via a hollow adapter extending between the milk hose and the feed port.

[0010] In some cases, the feed port is configured to be coupled to the milk channel by connecting the second end of the elbow to the upper end of the milk channel.

[0011] In some cases, the angle of curvature is selected to increase the amount of time that the milk channel is filled with fluid.

[0012] In some cases, the angle of curvature is approximately 60 degrees.

[0013] According to a third aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a purge fluid conservation system comprising processing circuitry configured to: for one or more given milk meters of one or more milk meters in a milk meter system, obtain, for one or more sampling periods during a given iteration of a given purge procedure for purge the milk meter system, temperature values ​​indicative of a temperature of a purge fluid flowing through the respective given milk meter; and in response to the temperature value for the respective sampling period for the sampling period before a specified time for completion of the given iteration being greater than or equal to a predefined temperature, perform one or more actions to reduce an amount of purge fluid used in at least one of the given iteration or subsequent iterations of the given purge procedure after the given iteration to less than a specified amount of purge fluid specified for use in the given purge procedure before the given iteration.

[0014] In some cases, the temperature value is obtained from one or more temperature sensors included in a given milk meter.

[0015] In some cases, the action includes stopping a given iteration before a specified time.

[0016] In some cases, a given iteration is stopped immediately when the temperature value for the corresponding sampling period is greater than or equal to a predefined temperature.

[0017] In some cases, the actions include specifying, prior to the subsequent iteration, a reduced amount of cleaning fluid to be used in the subsequent iteration, the reduced amount being less than the specified amount.

[0018] In some cases, the processing circuit device is further configured to: calculate or determine (a) the cumulative amount of cleaning fluid that has flowed through the milk meter system during a given iteration or (b) until the end of the corresponding sampling period; wherein the reduction amount is designated as greater than or equal to the cumulative amount.

[0019] According to a fourth aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a rinsing fluid conservation method, comprising: obtaining, for one or more given milk meters of one or more milk meters in a milk meter system, temperature values ​​indicative of a temperature of rinsing fluid flowing through the respective given milk meter for one or more sampling periods during a given iteration of a given rinsing procedure for rinsing the milk meter system; and in response to the temperature value for the respective sampling period for the sampling period before a specified time for completing the given iteration being greater than or equal to a predefined temperature, performing one or more actions to reduce an amount of rinsing fluid used in at least one of the given iteration or subsequent iterations of the given rinsing procedure after the given iteration to less than a specified amount of rinsing fluid specified for use in the given rinsing procedure before the given iteration.

[0020] In some cases, the temperature value is obtained from one or more temperature sensors included in a given milk meter.

[0021] In some cases, the action includes stopping a given iteration before a specified time.

[0022] In some cases, a given iteration is stopped immediately when the temperature value for the corresponding sampling period is greater than or equal to a predefined temperature.

[0023] In some cases, the actions include specifying, prior to the subsequent iteration, a reduced amount of cleaning fluid to be used in the subsequent iteration, the reduced amount being less than the specified amount.

[0024] In some cases, the method further includes: calculating or determining a cumulative amount of cleaning fluid that has flowed through the milk meter system (a) during a given iteration or (b) until the end of a corresponding sampling period; wherein the reduction amount is designated as greater than or equal to the cumulative amount. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] In order to understand the presently disclosed subject matter and to see how it may be implemented in practice, the subject matter will now be described by way of non-limiting example only with reference to the accompanying drawings. The dimensions of the components and features shown in the drawings are chosen for convenience and clarity of presentation and are not necessarily drawn to scale. In the drawings:

[0026] Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of one example of a milk channel according to the presently disclosed subject matter;

[0027] Figure 2is a block diagram schematically illustrating one example of a purge fluid conservation system in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter;

[0028] Figure 3 is a flow chart illustrating one example of a sequence of operations for reducing an amount of purging fluid used in at least one iteration of a given purging process for purging a milk meter system including one or more milk meters in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter;

[0029] Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of one example of a feed port of a milk channel configured to be coupled to a milk meter in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter; and

[0030] Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of one example of a milk channel coupling a feed port to a milk hose and a milk meter according to the presently disclosed subject matter. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] In the following detailed description, many specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the subject matter disclosed herein. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the subject matter disclosed herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other cases, well-known methods, procedures, and components are not described in detail in order to avoid obscuring the subject matter disclosed herein.

[0032] In the figures and description set forth, like reference numerals indicate those parts that are common to the different embodiments or configurations.

[0033] Unless otherwise expressly stated, it will be apparent from the following discussion that in the discussion throughout the specification, terms such as "compute", "obtain", "execute", "stop", "specify", etc. are used to include actions and / or processes, particularly including actions and / or processes of a computer, which manipulates data and / or converts data into other data, the data being represented as physical quantities, such as electronic quantities, and / or the data representing physical objects. The terms "computer", "processor" and "processing circuit device" should be broadly interpreted to cover any kind of electronic device with data processing capabilities, including by way of non-limiting examples personal desktop / laptop computers, servers, computing systems, communication devices, smartphones, tablet computers, smart TVs, processors (e.g., digital signal processors (DSPs), microcontrollers, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), etc.), a group of multiple physical machines sharing the performance of various tasks, virtual servers co-resident on a single physical machine, any other electronic computing device and / or any combination thereof.

[0034] As used herein, the phrases "for example," "such as," "for example," and variations thereof describe non-limiting embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter. References in the specification to "one instance," "some instances," "other instances," or variations thereof mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in conjunction with the embodiment(s) is included in at least one embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter. Thus, the appearance of the phrases "one instance," "some instances," "other instances," or variations thereof do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment(s).

[0035] It should be understood that, unless otherwise stated, for clarity, certain features of the presently disclosed subject matter described in the context of separate embodiments may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, for brevity, various features of the presently disclosed subject matter described in the context of a single embodiment may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

[0036] In an embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter, Figure 3 Fewer, more and / or different stages are shown. In embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter, Figure 3 One or more of the stages shown may be performed in a different order, and / or one or more groups of stages may be performed simultaneously. Figure 2 A general schematic diagram of a system architecture according to an embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter is illustrated. Figure 2 Each module in may be composed of any combination of software, hardware and / or firmware that performs the functions defined and explained herein. Figure 2 The modules in the system may be concentrated in one location or distributed over more than one location. In other embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter, the system may include Figure 2 Fewer, more and / or different modules than those shown in .

[0037] Any reference to a method in the specification shall apply mutatis mutandis to a system capable of carrying out the method and shall apply mutatis mutandis to a non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions which, once executed by a computer, cause the method to be carried out.

[0038] Any reference in the specification to a system shall apply mutatis mutandis to methods that may be performed by the system and shall apply mutatis mutandis to non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that may be executed by the system.

[0039] Any references in the specification to non-transitory computer-readable media shall apply mutatis mutandis to systems capable of executing instructions stored in non-transitory computer-readable media, and shall apply mutatis mutandis to methods executable by computers reading instructions stored in non-transitory computer-readable media.

[0040] Now pay attention Figure 1 , Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of one example of a milk channel 100 in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter.

[0041] According to the presently disclosed subject matter, the milk channel 100 is configured to enable fluid (i.e., milk, cleaning fluid, etc.) to flow therethrough. The milk channel 100 includes a first component 102 and a second component 104 (the second component 104 is disposed between the first component 102 and the second component 104). Figure 1 ), wherein a first value of at least one optical property of the first component 102 is different from a second value of the optical property of the second component 104. In some cases, the milk channel 100 is a straight milk channel, such as Figure 1 That is, the milk channel 100 is configured such that a fluid (i.e., milk, cleaning fluid, etc.) can flow through the milk channel 100 from the top of the milk channel 100 to the bottom of the milk channel 100 , which is opposite or substantially opposite to the top of the milk channel 100 .

[0042] In some cases, at least one cross-section of the milk channel 100 includes four sides 112, 114, 116, and 118; the second components 104 of the milk channel 100, which are shaded gray; and at least some of the first components 102 of the milk channel 100. In some cases, all of the milk channel 100 except the second components 104 are first components 102. In some cases, the first side 112 of the sides (112, 114, 116, 118) is substantially opposite to the second side 114 of the sides (112, 114, 116, 118), and the third side 116 of the sides (112, 114, 116, 118) is substantially opposite to the fourth side 118 of the sides (112, 114, 116, 118). In some cases, the first side 112 and the second side 114 are rectangular cross-sections. In some cases, as Figure 1 As shown, the cross section of the milk channel 100 has a cubic structure. In some cases, the cross section of the milk channel 100 may have a structure different from the cubic structure, such as a tubular structure.

[0043] In some cases, the second component 104 of the milk channel 100 includes a first window ( Figure 1 in gray) and the second window ( Figure 1In some cases, the second component 104 of the milk channel 100 is composed of the first window and the second window.

[0044] Now pay attention Figure 2 , Figure 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating one example of a washer fluid conservation system 200 in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter.

[0045] In accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter, a cleaning fluid conservation system 200 can be configured to reduce the amount of cleaning fluid or water used in at least one iteration of a given cleaning process for cleaning a milk meter system (not shown) including one or more milk meters (not shown), the given cleaning process being at least a component of a cleaning program for cleaning the milk meter system. It should be noted that all references in this disclosure to using cleaning fluid in a given cleaning process also apply to using water in the given cleaning process. Furthermore, it should be noted that all references in this disclosure to milk meters also apply to milk sensors (i.e., low-end milk meters).

[0046] In some cases, the purge fluid conservation system 200 may be configured to include one or more network interfaces 210. The network interfaces 210 are configured to connect the purge fluid conservation system 200 to one or more communication networks, thereby enabling the purge fluid conservation system 200 to send and receive data via the communication networks. In some cases, the communication network may include an organized (e.g., local) communication network for communication between a milk meter in a milk meter system and the purge fluid conservation system 200. Additionally or alternatively, in some cases, the communication network may be configured to include an external communication network, such as the Internet, to enable the purge fluid conservation system 200 to communicate with other computerized devices external to the milk meter system.

[0047] The cleaning fluid conservation system 200 may also include or otherwise be associated with a data repository 220 (e.g., a database, a storage system, a memory including a read-only memory-ROM, a random access memory-RAM, and / or any other type of memory, etc.), which is configured to store data, particularly including data received via a communication network. In some cases, the data repository 220 may also be configured to be able to retrieve and / or update and / or delete the stored data. It should be noted that in some cases, the data repository 220 may be distributed.

[0048] The cleaning fluid conservation system 200 also includes a processing circuit device 230. The processing circuit device 230 can be one or more processing units (e.g., a central processing unit), a microprocessor, a microcontroller (e.g., a microcontroller unit (MCU)), or any other computing device or module, including multiple and / or parallel and / or distributed processing units, which are suitable for independently or collaboratively processing data for controlling the relevant resources of the cleaning fluid conservation system 200 and implementing operations related to the resources of the cleaning fluid conservation system 200.

[0049] The processing circuitry 230 may be configured to include a purge fluid conservation module 240 for reducing the amount of purge fluid used in at least one iteration of a given purge process for purge the milk meter system, as described in further detail herein, particularly with reference to Figure 3 .

[0050] Now pay attention Figure 3 , Figure 3 is a flow chart illustrating one example of a sequence 300 of operations for reducing an amount of purging fluid used in at least one iteration of a given purging process for purging a milk meter system (not shown) including one or more milk meters (not shown) in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter.

[0051] In accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter, the purge fluid conservation system 200 may be configured to obtain temperature values ​​for one or more given milk meters of the milk meters in the milk meter system, for example using the purge fluid conservation module 240, the temperature values ​​indicating the temperature of the purge fluid flowing through the corresponding given milk meter during a given iteration of a given purge process of one or more purge processes for cleaning the milk meter system. During the given iteration, temperature values ​​for one or more sampling periods are obtained (block 304). In some cases, the sampling period may be a sampling instance.

[0052] The temperature value may be obtained from one or more temperature sensors (not shown). In some cases, the temperature sensor may be included in a given milk meter. In some cases, a temperature sensor associated with a respective one of the milk meters in the milk meter system may be used to provide a temperature value during a milking session of milking a non-human mammal, the temperature value being indicative of the temperature of milk flowing through the respective milk meter during the milking session.

[0053] In some cases, one or more of the temperature sensors can be thermopiles. In some cases, all of the temperature sensors can be thermopiles.

[0054] The purge fluid conservation system 200 may also be configured, for example, using the purge fluid conservation module 240, to determine that the temperature value of the corresponding sampling period of the sampling periods is greater than or equal to a predefined temperature and / or a predefined temperature range before a specified time of completing a given iteration of a given purge process (block 308).

[0055] In response to the determination, the purge fluid conservation system 200 may be configured to perform one or more actions, such as using the purge fluid conservation module 240, to reduce the amount of purge fluid used in at least one of the given iteration or subsequent iterations of the given purge process after the given iteration. Prior to the given iteration, the amount of purge fluid is reduced to less than a specified amount of purge fluid specified for the given purge process (block 312). In some cases, the amount of purge fluid used in more than one subsequent iteration of the given purge process may be reduced.

[0056] In some cases, one or more actions are performed only if the temperature value of one or more earlier sampling periods of the sampling period of the given iteration prior to the corresponding sampling period of the given iteration is greater than or equal to the predefined temperature and / or predefined temperature range. Additionally or alternatively, in some cases, one or more actions are performed based not only on the temperature value of the corresponding sampling period of the given iteration being greater than or equal to the predefined temperature and / or predefined temperature range, but also on the reading value of one or more additional sensors (e.g., conductivity sensor, optical sensor, flow sensor indicating the flow rate of the cleaning fluid) associated with the corresponding milk meter in the milk meter system and obtained during a given iteration of the given cleaning process. In this regard, it should be noted that the readings from one or more of these additional sensors may also be provided during the milking period. For example, a conductivity sensor associated with a corresponding milk meter of the milk meters in the milk meter system may be used to provide a conductivity level reading during the milking period, the conductivity level reading indicating the conductivity of the milk flowing through the corresponding milk meter during the milking period.

[0057] In some cases, the action may include stopping a given iteration of a given cleaning process before a specified time for completing the given iteration. In doing so, resources may be conserved (e.g., cleaning fluid, power (e.g., power used to heat the cleaning fluid used in the given iteration), duration of the given iteration, etc.). In some cases, the given iteration may be stopped immediately when the temperature value of the corresponding sampling period during the given iteration is greater than or equal to a predefined temperature and / or a predefined temperature range.

[0058] Additionally or alternatively, in some cases, the action may include specifying, prior to the subsequent iteration(s), a reduction in the amount of cleaning fluid to be used for the subsequent iteration(s) of the given cleaning process that is less than a specified amount of cleaning fluid specified to be used in the given cleaning process prior to the given iteration(s). In doing so, resources (e.g., cleaning fluid, power (power for heating the cleaning fluid used in the subsequent iteration(s)), duration of the subsequent iteration(s), etc.) may be conserved for the subsequent iteration(s).

[0059] In some cases, the purge fluid conservation system 200 may be configured to calculate or determine, for example using the purge fluid conservation module 240, the amount of purge fluid that has flowed through the milk meter system (a) during a given iteration of a given purge process or (b) until the end of the corresponding sampling period of the given iteration (the calculated or determined amount of purge fluid is referred to herein as the "cumulative amount of purge fluid"). In one example, the cumulative amount of purge fluid may be calculated using a flow sensor in the milk meter system that indicates the flow rate of the purge fluid. The cumulative amount of purge fluid may then be used to determine a reduced amount of purge fluid used in a subsequent iteration (one or more) of a given purge process. In some cases, the reduced amount of purge fluid used in the subsequent iteration (one or more) may be equal to the cumulative amount of purge fluid. Alternatively, in some cases, the reduced amount of purge fluid used in the subsequent iteration (one or more) may be: (a) greater than the cumulative amount of purge fluid, and (b) less than (without using information from the cumulative amount of purge fluid) the amount of purge fluid that will be used in the subsequent iteration (one or more). Thus, by using the information contained in the accumulated amount of purge fluid, as described herein, in one example, the system may use less purge fluid than it would otherwise use.

[0060] In some cases, the cumulative amount of purging fluid may be calculated or determined, at least in part, by calculating or determining a respective amount of purging fluid flowing through each milk meter of the milk meters in the milk meter system either (a) during a given iteration of a given purging process, or (b) until the end of a respective sampling period of the given iteration (e.g., using a flow sensor that indicates a flow rate of purging fluid flowing through the milk meter).

[0061] It should be noted that reference Figure 3 , some blocks may be integrated into a combined block, or may be decomposed into several blocks and / or other blocks may be added. It should also be noted that although the flow charts are also described with reference to system elements that implement them, this is by no means a constraint, and these blocks may be performed by elements other than those described herein.

[0062] Now pay attention Figure 4 , Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of one example of a feed opening 400 of a milk channel 100 configured to be coupled to a milk meter in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter.

[0063] According to the presently disclosed subject matter, the feed port 400 can be configured to include an elbow 410 having a first end 420 and a second end 430. The first end 420 has a first opening 425 so that the milk flowing through the milk guide tube ( Figure 4 In some cases, the fluid may be milk extracted from a non-human mammal during a milking period. In some cases, the fluid may be a cleaning fluid for cleaning a milking system (particularly including milk channel 100).

[0064] The second end 430 of the elbow 410 has a second opening 435. The second opening 435 enables the fluid flowing through the milk hose and subsequently through the elbow 410 to leave the elbow 410 and enter the milk channel 100 of the milk meter.

[0065] In some cases, the angle of curvature α between the first end 420 of the elbow 410 and the second end 430 of the elbow 410 can be less than about 90 degrees. In some cases, α can be between about 45 degrees and about 90 degrees. In some cases, α can be between about 50 degrees and about 75 degrees. In some cases, α can be between about 50 degrees and about 70 degrees (e.g., about 51 degrees, 52 degrees, 53 degrees, 54 degrees, 55 degrees, 56 degrees, 57 degrees, 58 degrees, 59 degrees, 60 degrees, 61 degrees, 62 degrees, 63 degrees, 64 degrees, 65 degrees, 66 degrees, 67 degrees, 68 degrees, 69 degrees, or 70 degrees).

[0066] Now pay attention Figure 5 , Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of one example of a milk channel 100 coupling a feed port 400 to a milk hose 510 and a milk meter according to the presently disclosed subject matter.

[0067] According to the presently disclosed subject matter, the feed port 400 is configured to be coupled to the milk guide hose 510 and the milk guide channel 100 ( Figure 5 ), so that the fluid flowing through the milk hose 510 can then flow through the milk channel 100. In some cases, the feed port 400 can be connected to a milk hose 510 with a diameter of 16 mm. Alternatively, in some cases, the feed port 400 can be connected to a milk hose 510 with a diameter of, for example, 19 mm.

[0068] In some cases, such as Figure 5As shown, the feed port 400 may be configured to be coupled to the milk hose 510 via a hollow adapter 520 extending between the milk hose 510 and the feed port 400 .

[0069] In some cases, the feed port 400 may be configured to be coupled to the milk channel 100 by connecting the second end 430 of the feed port 400 to an upper end (not shown) of the milk channel 100 .

[0070] In some cases, the milk hose 510 has a first cross-sectional area, and the cross-section of the milk channel 100 (eg, Figure 1 The cross-section of the milk channel 100 shown in FIG. 4 has a second cross-sectional area that is smaller than the first cross-sectional area. It is advantageous to manufacture the cross-section of the milk channel 100 to have a second cross-sectional area that is smaller than the first cross-sectional area of ​​the milk hose 510 because this allows the milk channel 100 to be filled with fluid (e.g., milk, cleaning fluid, etc.) flowing through the milk channel 100 for a greater percentage of the time that the fluid is flowing through the milk channel 100, which can result in a more accurate calculation of the amount of fluid that has flowed through the milk channel 100. It should be noted in this regard that the feed port 400 can be configured to be connected to a milk channel 100 of a milk meter, a milk sensor, or any other device in which it is necessary or beneficial for the milk channel 100 to be filled with fluid (e.g., milk, cleaning fluid, etc.).

[0071] In some cases, the angle of curvature α of the feed opening 400 is selected to cause a burst of fluid (e.g., milk, cleaning fluid, etc.) to flow toward the milk channel 100, i.e., to allow the fluid to accumulate in the feed opening 400 before flowing toward the milk channel 100. By using a feed opening 400 having an angle of curvature α to cause a burst of fluid to flow toward the milk channel 100, the amount of time during a milking period and / or a cleaning procedure that the milk channel 100 is filled with fluid is increased. Furthermore, by using a feed opening 400 having an angle of curvature α to cause a burst of fluid to flow toward the milk channel 100, at least in some cases, the amount of fluid that flows through the milk channel 100 during a milking period and / or a cleaning procedure can be more accurately calculated, at least in part due to the increase in the amount of time during a milking period and / or a cleaning procedure that the milk channel 100 is filled with fluid. In some cases, as described in detail previously herein, particularly with reference to Figure 4 , α can be less than about 90 degrees. In some cases, α can be about 60 degrees.

[0072] It should be understood that the subject matter disclosed herein is not limited in its application to the details set forth in the description contained herein or shown in the accompanying drawings. The subject matter disclosed herein can have other embodiments and can be practiced and executed in various ways. Therefore, it should be understood that the wording and terminology used herein are for descriptive purposes and should not be considered as limiting. Therefore, those skilled in the art will understand that the concepts on which the present disclosure is based can be easily used as the basis for designing other structures, methods and systems for achieving several purposes of the subject matter disclosed herein.

[0073] It will also be understood that a system according to the presently disclosed subject matter may be implemented at least in part as a suitably programmed computer. Likewise, the presently disclosed subject matter contemplates a computer program readable by a computer for carrying out the disclosed method. The presently disclosed subject matter also contemplates a machine-readable memory tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a machine for carrying out the disclosed method.

Claims

1. A device comprising: A milk channel having a first component and a second component, wherein a first value of at least one optical property of the first component is different from a second value of the optical property of the second component.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one cross-section of the milk channel comprises four sides, wherein a first side of the side is substantially opposite a second side of the side, wherein the first side and the second side are each a rectangular cross-section, and wherein the second portion of the milk channel comprises a first window and a second window, the first window being at least a portion of the first side of the side and the second window being at least a second portion of the second side of the side.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the milk channel is a straight milk channel.

4. A feeding port, the feeding port being configured to be connected to a milk channel of a milk guide hose and a milk meter, the feeding port comprising: An elbow having a first end and a second end, the first end having a first opening to allow fluid flowing through the milk hose to enter the elbow, and the second end having a second opening to allow the fluid to exit the elbow and enter the milk channel, wherein an angle of curvature between the first end and the second end is less than about 90 degrees.

5. The feed port of claim 4, wherein the feed port is configured to be coupled to the milk hose via a hollow adapter extending between the milk hose and the feed port. 6 . The feedwell of claim 4 , wherein the feedwell is configured to be coupled to the milk channel by connecting the second end of the elbow to an upper end of the milk channel.

7. The feedwell of claim 4, wherein the angle of curvature is selected to increase the amount of time that the milk channel is filled with the fluid.

8. The feedwell of claim 4, wherein the angle of curvature is approximately 60 degrees.

9. A cleaning fluid conservation system comprising a processing circuit device, wherein the processing circuit device is configured to: for one or more given milk meters of the one or more milk meters in the milk meter system, obtaining, for one or more sampling periods during a given iteration of a given cleaning process for cleaning the milk meter system, a temperature value indicative of a temperature of a cleaning fluid flowing through the respective given milk meter; and In response to the temperature value of a corresponding one of the sampling periods before a specified time for completing the given iteration being greater than or equal to a predefined temperature, performing one or more actions to reduce an amount of the cleaning fluid used in the given iteration or in at least one of subsequent iterations of the given cleaning process after the given iteration to less than a specified amount of the cleaning fluid specified for use in the given cleaning process prior to the given iteration.

10. The cleaning fluid conservation system of claim 9, wherein the temperature value is obtained from one or more temperature sensors included in the given milk meter.

11. The washer fluid conservation system of claim 9, wherein said action comprises stopping said given iteration prior to said designated time.

12. The cleaning fluid conservation system of claim 11, wherein the given iteration stops immediately when the temperature value for the corresponding sampling period is greater than or equal to the predefined temperature.

13. The purge fluid conservation system of claim 9, wherein the action comprises specifying, prior to the subsequent iteration, a reduced amount of the purge fluid to be used in the subsequent iteration, the reduced amount being less than the specified amount.

14. The cleaning fluid conservation system of claim 13, wherein the processing circuit device is further configured to: calculating or determining (a) a cumulative amount of said cleaning fluid that has flowed through said milk meter system during said given iteration or (b) until the end of said corresponding sampling period; wherein the reduction amount is specified to be greater than or equal to the accumulation amount.

15. A method for saving cleaning fluid, comprising: for one or more given milk meters of the one or more milk meters in the milk meter system, obtaining, for one or more sampling periods during a given iteration of a given cleaning process for cleaning the milk meter system, a temperature value indicative of a temperature of a cleaning fluid flowing through the respective given milk meter; as well as In response to the temperature value for a corresponding one of the sampling periods prior to a specified time for completing the given iteration being greater than or equal to a predefined temperature, performing one or more actions to reduce an amount of the cleaning fluid used in the given iteration or in at least one of subsequent iterations of the given cleaning process after the given iteration to less than a specified amount of the cleaning fluid specified for use in the given cleaning process prior to the given iteration.

16. The cleaning fluid conservation method of claim 15, wherein the temperature value is obtained from one or more temperature sensors included in the given milk meter.

17. The cleaning fluid conservation method of claim 15, wherein the action comprises stopping the given iteration before the specified time.

18. The cleaning fluid conservation method of claim 17, wherein the given iteration is immediately stopped when the temperature value for the corresponding sampling period is greater than or equal to the predefined temperature.

19. The purge fluid conservation method of claim 15, wherein the action comprises specifying, prior to the subsequent iteration, a reduced amount of the purge fluid to be used in the subsequent iteration, the reduced amount being less than the specified amount.

20. The cleaning fluid conservation method according to claim 19, further comprising: calculating or determining (a) a cumulative amount of said cleaning fluid that has flowed through said milk meter system during said given iteration or (b) until the end of said corresponding sampling period; wherein the reduction amount is specified to be greater than or equal to the accumulation amount.

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