Milk extraction device

Abstract

A milking apparatus comprising a milk transport line (1), a plurality of milk stations, a cleaning device (4) comprising a delivery device (5) configured to deliver cleaning liquid into the milk transport line (1), and a pump (6) configured to pump the cleaning liquid through the milk transport line (1) at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure, thereby filling the transport line (1) with cleaning liquid, wherein the control unit (9) is configured to determine the volume and / or length of the milk transport line (1) based on a registered first time point of pump activation, a second time point of passage of the cleaning liquid through the milk transport line (1), and an amount of liquid introduced into the milk transport line from the first time point to the second time point.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a milking device comprising a milk transport line having a plurality of milk stations, a cleaning liquid delivery device, a pump for pumping the cleaning liquid through the milk transport line at a pressure above atmospheric pressure, a sensor device for detecting the amount of the cleaning liquid delivered into the milk transport line and the start time of such delivery, and a control unit configured to receive an input to the sensor device.

Background Art

[0002] In connection with the installation of a cleaning device, it is of great concern to know the length and volume of the piping of the milk transport line that is repeatedly cleaned by the cleaning device. By knowing the volume and length of the milk transport line, cleaning parameters such as the amount of cleaning liquid and detergent used and the cleaning time are set. According to the prior art, the setting of the cleaning parameters is a manual process, where the length and volume of the milk transport line are estimated by adding together known separate lengths of piping of the milk transport line. Based on such an estimate, cleaning parameters such as the amount of liquid used for cleaning, the amount of detergent used, and the pump output are set.

[0003] However, such a system does not adapt to changes in the milk transport line such as changes in the length and leaks of the milk transport line. The user of the system has to either repeatedly perform a manual check of the volume and length of the milking transport line or rely on cleaning parameters set such that sufficient cleaning is possible even in the case of a slight change in the volume or length of the milk transport line or a slight leak therein. Thus, using such a safety margin results in an overuse of the cleaning liquid and detergent in cases where no change has occurred. Alternatively, time-consuming manual measurements have to be performed.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a milking device that eliminates the need for manual setting of the length of the cleaning device associated with the length of the milk transport line of the milking device and / or manual setting of operating parameters.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The object of the present invention is achieved by means of a milking device, the milking device comprising: - a milk transport line; - a plurality of milk stations connected to the milk transport line; - a milk container configured to receive milk transported from the milk stations through the milk transport line to the milk container, the milk container being connected to the milk transport line; - a cleaning device configured to introduce a liquid into the milk transport line and transport the liquid through the milk transport line, the cleaning device comprising: - a delivery device configured to deliver a cleaning liquid into the milk transport line; - a pump configured to pump the cleaning liquid through the milk transport line at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure, thereby filling the transport line with the cleaning liquid; - a first sensor device configured to measure the amount of cleaning liquid delivered into the milk transport line by the delivery device and detect the point in time when the cleaning liquid begins to flow through the milk transport line; - a second sensor device configured to detect the point in time when the cleaning liquid has moved through the milk transport line; - a control unit configured to receive an input from the first sensor device regarding the amount of cleaning liquid delivered into the milk transport line by the delivery device and the point in time when the cleaning liquid begins to flow through the milk transport line, and to receive an input from the second sensor device regarding the point in time when the cleaning liquid has moved through the milk transport line, and configured to control the delivery device based on the inputs received from the first and second sensor devices; a cleaning device. The milking device described above is characterized in that the control unit is configured to determine the volume and / or length of the milk transport line based on the above inputs from the first and second sensor devices, and to control the delivery device based thereon.

[0006] In particular, the control unit comprises a memory and a processor. Data regarding the inner diameter of the piping defining the milk transport line, and data regarding the internal volume of possible further components such as heat exchangers or filters arranged along the milk transport line and filled with cleaning liquid during cleaning are provided in the above memory, and the processor is configured to determine the length of the milk transport line based on the above data, as well as the volume and / or length of the milk transport line determined by the control unit based on the above inputs from the first and second sensor devices.

[0007] According to one embodiment, the milking device comprises a valve device provided in the milk transport line adjacent to the milk container, and the cleaning device comprises a cleaning return line extending from the above valve device to the delivery device.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the second sensor device is configured to detect the time when the cleaning liquid has moved through the milk transport line and through the cleaning return line, and the control unit is configured to determine the volume and / or length of the milk transport line and the cleaning return line based on the above inputs from the first and second sensor devices, and to control the delivery device based thereon.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the first sensor device comprises a flow meter.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the delivery device comprises a tray through which the cleaning liquid is guided into the milk transport line, and the first sensor device comprises a level meter arranged on the above tray.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the first sensor device includes a pump.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the second sensor device includes any one of a flow meter, a temperature sensor, or an electrical conductivity sensor.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the cleaning return line is provided with a drain branch and a valve device configured to open to discharge the cleaning liquid through the drain branch or to close the drain branch and open for return to the cleaning liquid delivery device. The control unit is configured to control the aforementioned valve device based on the determined volume and / or length of the milk transport line.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the cleaning device includes a purge device, and the control unit is configured to control the aforementioned purge device based on the determined volume and / or length of the milk transport line.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the control unit is configured to repeatedly perform the determination of the volume and / or length of the milk transport line, preferably at the beginning of each new cleaning sequence.

[0016] The control unit stores the determined volume and / or length of the milk transport line related to the setup of the milking system in a readable memory and compares the subsequent determination of the volume and / or length of the milk transport line executed by the control unit with the volume and / or length of the milk transport line determined related to the aforementioned setup. The processor of the control unit 9 is configured to issue a warning when the difference between the subsequently determined volume and / or length and the volume and / or length of the milk transport line determined related to the setup exceeds a predetermined value.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the milking apparatus comprises a plurality of milk transport lines, each being connected to a plurality of milking stations and being connected in parallel with each other and being connected to a cleaning device, and a control unit is configured to determine the volume and / or length of each milk transport line based on the input from the aforementioned first and second sensor devices, and to control a delivery device for delivering cleaning liquid to each transport line during its cleaning based on the determined volume and / or length of each milk transport line.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the control unit is subdivided into a plurality of sub-control units, and each milk transport line has its own dedicated sub-control unit configured to control the cleaning of the dedicated milk transport line.

[0019] The object of the present invention is also achieved by means of a method for controlling a milking apparatus, the aforementioned apparatus comprising - a milk transport line, - a plurality of milk stations connected to the milk transport line, - a milk container configured to receive milk transported from the milk station via the milk transport line to the milk container, the milk container being connected to the milk transport line, - a cleaning device configured to introduce liquid into the milk transport line and transport the liquid through the milk transport line, the aforementioned cleaning device comprising - a delivery device configured to deliver cleaning liquid into the milk transport line, - a pump configured to pump the cleaning liquid through the milk transport line at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure, thereby filling the transport line with the cleaning liquid, - a first sensor device configured to measure the amount of cleaning liquid delivered into the milk transport line by the delivery device and to detect the point in time when the cleaning liquid begins to flow through the milk transport line, - a second sensor device configured to detect the point in time when the cleaning liquid has moved through the milk transport line, A cleaning device comprising a control unit comprising a readable storage memory and a processor The method described above - registering a first time point at which delivery of the cleaning liquid into the milk transport line starts and storing the above-mentioned registration in the above-mentioned storage memory - registering a second time point at which the cleaning liquid entering the milk transport line at the first time point has moved through the milk transport line and storing the above-mentioned registration in the above-mentioned storage memory - registering the amount of the cleaning liquid delivered into the milk transport line from the first time point to the second time point and storing the above-mentioned registration in the above-mentioned storage memory - determining, by means of the above-mentioned processor, the volume and / or length of the milk transport line based on the above-mentioned registration and controlling the operation of the delivery device based on the determined volume and / or length, characterized by including

[0020] According to one embodiment, the method - storing the inner diameter of the pipe defining the milk transport line in the above-mentioned memory - storing in the above-mentioned memory the internal volume and / or length of any further components arranged along the milk transport line, where the further components are components filled with the cleaning liquid during cleaning of the milk transport line - determining, by means of the above-mentioned processor, the length of the milk transport line based on the determined volume and / or length of the milk transport line, and the above-mentioned inner diameter and the above-mentioned internal volume of the further components, and controlling the operation of the delivery device based on the determined length of the milk transport line, further including

[0021] Exemplary embodiments of the drawings are described with reference to the accompanying drawings

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a milking apparatus comprising a milk transport line 1 and a plurality of milk stations 2 connected to the milk transport line 1. The portion of the milk transport line 1 along which the milk stations 2 are arranged may have a length exceeding 100 meters, while the remaining portion of the milk transport line is substantially shorter.

[0024] The milking apparatus further comprises a milk container 3, which is connected to the milk transport line 1 and is configured to receive milk transported via the milk transport line 1 from the milk stations 2 to the milk container 3.

[0025] The milking apparatus also comprises a cleaning device 4 configured to introduce a liquid into the milk transport line 1 and transport the liquid through the milk transport line 1.

[0026] The cleaning device 4 comprises a delivery device 5 configured to deliver a cleaning liquid to the milk transport line and a pump 6 configured to pump the cleaning liquid into the milk transport line 1 at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure, thereby filling the transport line 1 with the cleaning liquid. The pressure generated by the pump 6 must be such that the column of cleaning liquid completely fills the pipe through which it passes and advances through the milk transport line 1 at the start of the cleaning sequence. The pump 6 may preferably be a centrifugal pump.

[0027] A first sensor device 7 is also provided and is configured to measure the amount of cleaning liquid delivered into the milk transport line 1 by the delivery device 5 and to detect the point in time when the cleaning liquid begins to flow through the milk transport line 1.

[0028] In addition to the first sensor device, there is also a second sensor device 8 configured to detect the point in time when the cleaning liquid has moved through the milk transport line 1.

[0029] Furthermore, a control unit 9 is provided that is configured to receive inputs from the first sensor device 7 regarding the amount of cleaning liquid delivered into the milk transport line 1 by the delivery device 5 and the point in time when the cleaning liquid begins to flow through the milk transport line 1. The control unit 9 may comprise one or more physical entities and may comprise a readable memory as well as a processor.

[0030] The control unit 9 is also configured to receive inputs from the second sensor device regarding the point in time when the cleaning liquid has moved through the milk transport line 1.

[0031] The control unit 9 is configured to determine the volume and / or length of the milk transport line 1 based on the aforementioned inputs from the first sensor device 7 and the second sensor device 8, and is configured to control the delivery device 5 based on such inputs.

[0032] The control unit 9 may be configured to repeatedly determine the volume and / or length of the milk transport line, preferably each time a cleaning sequence is initiated.

[0033] Thus, for example, a deviation in the determined volume and / or length from the aforementioned cleaning sequence caused by a leak along the milk transport line 1 can be detected, and the control unit is preferably configured to give a warning to the user if there is such a deviation. The control unit 9 stores in a readable memory the volume and / or length of the milk transport line determined by the control unit 9 in relation to the setup of the milking system, and is configured to compare the subsequent determination made by the control unit 9 with the volume and / or length of the milk transport line determined in relation to the aforementioned setup. The processor of the control unit 9 is configured to issue a warning if the difference between the subsequently determined volume and / or length and the volume and / or length of the milk transport line determined in relation to the setup exceeds a predetermined value.

[0034] The milking device further comprises a valve device 10 provided in the milk transport line 1 adjacent to the milk container 3, and the cleaning device 4 includes a cleaning return line 11 extending from the aforementioned valve 10 device to the delivery device 5.

[0035] The second sensor device 8 is configured to detect the point in time when the cleaning liquid has moved through the milk transport line 1 and through the cleaning return line 11. The control unit 9 is configured to determine the volume and / or length of the milk transport line 1 and the cleaning return line 11 based on the aforementioned inputs from the first sensor device 7 and the second sensor device 8. The internal volume and length of the cleaning return line 11 are usually substantially shorter than the internal volume and length of the milk transport line 1. The length of the milk transport line 1 can be more than 10 times longer than the cleaning return line 11. Usually, the milk transport line 1 has a length exceeding 100 meters. The volume and length of the cleaning return line can be pre-set data stored in the readable memory of the control unit 9. Thus, depending on the location where the second sensor device is arranged, the control unit 9 can be configured to take into account the volume of the cleaning return line 11 when determining the volume and / or length of the milk transport line.

[0036] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the first sensor device 7 includes a flow meter 12 provided in a delivery line 13 connected to a water source (not shown).

[0037] However, the flow meter may alternatively be embodied by a pump 6, which is configured to measure the amount of liquid flowing therethrough.

[0038] The start of the pump 6 may also be an indication of the first point in time when the cleaning liquid begins to flow into the milk transport line 1. If there is a distance of a predetermined internal volume of piping (hereinafter referred to as additional piping) between the pump 6 and the milk transport line 1, the volume of such additional piping may be pre-set data in the storage memory of the control unit 9, and the control unit 9 may be configured to take into account the volume of such additional piping when determining the volume and / or length of the milk transport line 1.

[0039] The delivery device 5 includes a tray 14 through which the cleaning liquid from the delivery line 13 is guided into the milk transport line 1. The first sensor device 7 also includes a level meter 15 connected to and disposed on the aforementioned tray 14, and the level meter 15 assists the flow meter 12 disposed in the delivery line 13.

[0040] The second sensor device 8 includes a sensor capable of detecting when the front surface of the cleaning liquid reaches the position of the sensor. In an exemplary embodiment, the second sensor device includes a temperature sensor. The sensor device 8 also includes a time counter for recognizing the point in time when the sensor detects the front surface of the cleaning liquid.

[0041] The cleaning return line 11 is provided with a drain branch 16 and a valve device 17 configured to open to discharge the cleaning liquid through the drain branch 16, or to close the drain branch 16 and to open to return the cleaning liquid to the tray 14 of the delivery device 5. The control unit 9 is configured to control the aforementioned valve device 17 based on the determined volume and / or length of the milk transport line 1.

[0042] The milking device includes a purge device 18 configured to blow out the milk transport line so that there is no residual liquid, and the control unit 9 is configured to control the aforementioned purge device 18 based on the determined volume and / or length of the milk transport line 1.

[0043] Data regarding the inner diameter of the pipe defining the milk transport line 1 and data regarding the internal volume of possible further components such as the heat exchanger 20 or the filter 21 arranged along the milk transport line 1 and filled with cleaning liquid during cleaning are provided in the memory of the control unit 9, and the processor is configured to determine the length of the milk transport line 1 based on said data, and the volume and / or length of the milk transport line 1 determined by the control unit based on the aforementioned inputs from the first sensor device 7 and the second sensor device 8.

[0044] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment, where the milking device comprises a plurality of, in this case two, milk transport lines 1, 1', each connected to a plurality of milking stations 2, 2' and connected to each other in parallel and to the cleaning device 4 in relation to the cleaning device 4.

[0045] The control unit is subdivided into control subunits 9, 9' with one for each of the plurality of milk transport lines 1, 1'. Each control subunit 9, 9' is configured to determine the volume and / or length of its respective milk transport line 1, 1' based on the inputs from the aforementioned first device 7 and second device 8. Each control subunit 9, 9' is configured to control a delivery device 5 for delivering a cleaning liquid to its respective transport line 1, 1' during its cleaning based on the determined volume and / or length of its respective transport line 1, 1'. Each milk transport line 1, 1' has a dedicated purge device 18, 18'. Each milk transport line 1, 1' can be selectively and individually connected to the milk tank 3 and the return line 11 via a dedicated valve device 10, 10'. The cleaning device 4 can be selectively connected to each milk transport line 1, 1' via its respective valve 19, 19'. Thus, an individual milk transport line can be cleaned by the cleaning device 4 while another milk transport line is harvesting milk from the milking station and delivering it to the milk tank 3.

[0046] Figure 3 shows a flow scheme showing an embodiment of the method according to the invention as applied to the milking device shown in Figure 1 or to each of the milk transport lines 1, 1', 1" within the milking device shown in Figure 2.

[0047] The method is S1: registering, by means of the first sensor device 7, a first time point of the start of delivery of the cleaning liquid to the milk transport line and storing the aforementioned registration in the aforementioned storage memory; S2: registering, by means of the second sensor device 8, a second time point at which the cleaning liquid entering the milk transport line at the first time point has moved through the milk transport line, and storing the aforementioned registration in the aforementioned storage memory; S3: registering, by means of the first sensor device 7, the amount of cleaning liquid delivered into the milk transport line 1 from the first time point to the second time point, and storing the aforementioned registration in the aforementioned storage memory; S4: A step of determining the volume and / or length of the milk transport line 1 based on the aforementioned registration by means of the aforementioned processor of the control unit 9 (or each control sub-unit in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2), and S5: A step of controlling the operation of the delivery device 5 based on the determined volume and / or length, and comprising.

[0048] As an alternative shown in FIG. 4, the method may include the following steps replacing step S5 of FIG. 3, which are S5a: A step of storing in the memory of the control unit 9 the inner diameter of the pipe defining the milk transport line 1, and S5b: A step of storing in the aforementioned memory of the control unit 1 the internal volume of any further component arranged along the milk transport line 1, the further component being a component filled with cleaning liquid during cleaning of the milk transport line, of storing, and S5c: A step of determining, by means of the aforementioned processor, the length of the milk transport line 1 based on the determined volume and / or length of the milk transport line 1, and the aforementioned inner diameter and the aforementioned internal volume of the further component, and S5d: A step of controlling the operation of the delivery device 5 by means of the control unit 9 based on the determined length of the milk transport line 1.

Claims

1. A milking apparatus, comprising: - a milk transport line (1); - a plurality of milk stations (2) connected to the milk transport line (1); - a milk container (3) connected to the milk transport line (1) and configured to receive milk transported from the milk stations (2) through the milk transport line (1) into the milk container (3); - a cleaning device (4) configured to introduce a liquid into the milk transport line (1) and transport the liquid through the milk transport line (1), the cleaning device (4) comprising: - a delivery device (5) configured to deliver a cleaning liquid into the milk transport line (1); - a pump (6) configured to pump the cleaning liquid through the milk transport line (1) at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure, thereby filling the transport line (1) with the cleaning liquid; - a first sensor device (7) configured to measure the amount of cleaning liquid delivered into the milk transport line (1) by the delivery device (5) and to detect the point in time when the cleaning liquid begins to flow through the milk transport line (1); - a second sensor device (8) configured to detect the point in time when the cleaning liquid has moved through the milk transport line (1); - a control unit (9) configured to receive an input from the first sensor device (7) regarding the amount of the cleaning liquid delivered into the milk transport line (1) by the delivery device (5) and the point in time when the cleaning liquid begins to flow through the milk transport line (1), and to receive an input from the second sensor device (8) regarding the point in time when the cleaning liquid has moved through the milk transport line (1), and configured to control the delivery device (5) based on the inputs received from the first and second sensor devices (7, 8); and The milking apparatus is characterized in that the control unit (9) is configured to determine the volume and / or length of the milk transport line (1) based on the inputs from the first and second sensor devices (7, 8) and to control the delivery device (5) based thereon.

2. The milking device comprises a valve device (10) provided in the milk transport line (1) adjacent to the milk container (3), and the cleaning device (4) comprises a cleaning return line (11) extending from the valve device (10) to the delivery device (5). The milking device according to claim 1, characterized in that.

3. The second sensor device (8) is configured to detect the time when the cleaning liquid passes through the milk transport line (1) and moves through the cleaning return line (11), and the control unit (9) is configured to determine the volume of the milk transport line (1) and the cleaning return line (11) based on the input from the first and second sensor devices (7, 8), and is configured to control the delivery device (5) based thereon. The milking device according to claim 2, characterized in that.

4. The milking device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first sensor device (7) comprises a flow meter (12).

5. The delivery device (5) comprises a tray (14), the cleaning liquid is guided to the milk transport line (1) via the tray (14), and the first sensor device (7) comprises a level meter (15) arranged on the tray (15). The milking device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that.

6. The milking device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the first sensor device (7) comprises the pump (6).

7. The milking device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the second sensor device (8) comprises any one of a flow meter, a temperature sensor, or an electrical conductivity sensor.

8. The cleaning return line (11) is provided with a drain branch (16) and a valve device (17) configured to open to discharge the cleaning liquid through the drain branch (16), or to close the drain branch (16) and open for the return of the cleaning liquid to the delivery device (5). The milking device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the control unit (9) is configured to control the valve device (17) based on the determined volume and / or length of the milk transport line (1).

9. The milking device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the cleaning device (4) comprises a purge device (18), and the control unit (9) is configured to control the purge device (18) based on the determined volume of the milk transport line (1).

10. The milking device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the control unit (9) is configured to repeat the determination of the volume and / or length of the milk transport line (1).

11. The milking device according to claim 10, characterized in that the control unit (9) stores the volume and / or length of the milk transport line (1) determined in relation to the setup of the milking device in a readable memory, and compares a subsequent determination of the volume and / or length of the milk transport line (1) performed by the control unit (9) with the volume and / or length of the milk transport line (1) determined in relation to the setup.

12. The milking device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the milking device comprises a plurality of milk transport lines (1, 1'), the plurality of milk transport lines (1, 1') are connected in parallel to a plurality of milking stations (2, 2') and are connected to the cleaning device (4), the control unit (9, 9') is configured to determine the volume and / or length of each milk transport line (1) based on inputs from the first and second sensor devices (7, 8), and is configured to control the delivery device (5) for delivering cleaning liquid to each respective transport line (1, 1') during its cleaning based on the determined volume and / or length of each respective transport line (1).

13. The milking device according to claim 12, characterized in that the control unit (9) is subdivided into a plurality of sub-control units (9, 9'), and each milk transport line (1, 1') has its own dedicated control sub-unit (9, 9') configured to control the cleaning of the dedicated milk transport line (1, 1').

14. A method for controlling a milking device, the device comprising - a milk transport line (1), - A plurality of milk stations (2) connected to the milk transport line (1); - A milk container (3) configured to receive milk transported from the milk station (2) through the milk transport line (1) and connected to the milk transport line (1); - A cleaning device (4) configured to introduce liquid into the milk transport line (1) and transport cleaning liquid through the milk transport line (1), the cleaning device (4) comprising: - A delivery device (5) configured to deliver cleaning liquid into the milk transport line; - A pump (6) configured to pump the cleaning liquid through the milk transport line (1) at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure, thereby filling the transport line (1) with the cleaning liquid; - A first sensor device (7) configured to measure the amount of cleaning liquid delivered into the milk transport line by the delivery device (5) and detect the point in time when the cleaning liquid begins to flow through the milk transport line; - A second sensor device (8) configured to detect the point in time when the cleaning liquid has moved through the milk transport line (1); - A control unit (9) comprising a readable storage memory and a processor, the cleaning device (4); and The method comprising: - Registering a first point in time at which delivery of the cleaning liquid into the milk transport line begins and storing the registration in the storage memory (step S1); - Registering a second point in time at which the cleaning liquid entering the milk transport line at the first point in time has moved through the milk transport line and storing the registration in the storage memory (step S2); - Registering the amount of cleaning liquid delivered into the milk transport line between the first point in time and the second point in time and storing the registration in the storage memory (step S3); - Determining the volume and / or length of the milk transport line based on the registration by means of the processor (step S4); - Controlling the operation of the delivery device (5) based on the determined volume and / or length (step S5). A method characterized by including these steps.

15. The method comprising: - Storing the inner diameter of the pipe defining the milk transport line in the memory (step S5a); - Storing in the memory the internal volume of any further component arranged along the milk transport line (1), said further component being a component filled with the cleaning liquid during cleaning of the milk transport line, the storing step (S5b); - Determining, by means of the processor, the length of the milk transport line (1) based on the determined volume and / or length of the milk transport line (1), and the inner diameter and the internal volume of the further component, the determining step (S5c); - Further comprising controlling the operation of the delivery device (5) based on the determined length of the milk transport line, the method according to claim 14.

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