System for creating milk samples

Abstract

System (100) for creating milk samples of milk from only one animal. The system comprises a milk conduit (112, 125, 123, 121); a milk supply regulator (113), arranged to act on the milk conduit; a mixing chamber (120), connected to the milk conduit; a first liquid container (167); a first liquid conduit (186, 185, 184), connected to the milk conduit; a dosing pump (166), connected to the first liquid container and to the first liquid conduit. The dosing pump is configured to forward the first liquid from the first liquid container to the milk conduit. The dosing pump is also configured to dosing milk into the mixing chamber by forwarding the first liquid via the first liquid conduit to the milk conduit, causing milk in the milk conduit to progress into the mixing chamber.

Description

[0001] SYSTEM FOR CREATING MILK SAMPLES

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] This document discloses a system for creating milk samples according to the appended claims.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] On a dairy farm, it is sometimes desired to analyse a milk sample of milk from a particular animal in a milk analytic instrument. The reason may be to investigate whether the animal is suffering from Mastitis, Ketosis, Urea, or some decease or condition that may affect the milk yield and / or milk quality; or measuring a parameter reflecting milk quality itself, for example percentage of fat, protein, lactose, etc.

[0006] A convenient way of extracting the milk sample is when the animal is being milked in a milking station, for example by a milking robot, or in a rotary parlour. A milk sampling device may then extract the milk sample from a milk line comprising milk of the animal and provide the milk sample to the milk analytic instrument.

[0007] The milk analytic instrument may require mixing of the milk with one or several other liquids before providing the milk sample to the milk analytic instrument, depending on the type of test to be made, thereby optimally preparing the milk sample for the test. For example, the milk may have to be diluted with a diluent or prepared with a chemical indicator.

[0008] It is desired that no dirt or other non-desired particles is allowed to contaminate the milk sample, as the result of the analyses may be affected. It is also desired that the dosing proportions between the milk portion and the portion / s of the other liquid / s are precise, as these proportions play an important part when for example calculating Somatic Cell Count (SCC) of the milk portion of the milk sample. It is also desired to automate the sampling / testing process to an as large extent as possible, avoiding or preferably eliminating potential sources of failure during the mixture and human interaction to save work for the farmer. It also has to be assured that liquids / chemicals used by the milk analytic instrument are not allowed to reach the milk line under any circumstances.

[0009] It would be desired through further investigations and development to evolve a concept for preparing a milk sample for the purpose of making an analysis thereof.

[0010] SUMMARY It is therefore an object of this invention to solve at least some of the above problems and facilitate preparation of a milk sample for milk sample analysis.

[0011] According to a first aspect of the invention, this objective is achieved by a system for creating milk samples. Each milk sample created by the system comprises a milk portion of milk from only one animal.

[0012] The created milk sample may then be provided to a milk analyse device, for analysis of the milk. The analysis may for example comprise Somatic Cell Count (SCC), Standard Plate Counts (SPC), conductivity, antibody detection of one or several diseases, milk pregnancy testing, Preliminary Incubation Count (PIC), Lab Pasteurized Count (LPC), coliform count and / or Gerber test (for determining milk fat).

[0013] The system comprises a milk conduit and a milk supply regulator, arranged to act on the milk conduit, thereby either allowing, or disallowing, passage of milk through the milk conduit.

[0014] Also, the system comprises a mixing chamber, connected to the milk conduit, wherein milk and a liquid may be mixed. The system also comprises a first liquid container, comprising a first liquid; and a first liquid conduit, connected to the milk conduit.

[0015] The system also comprises a dosing pump, connected to the first liquid container and to the first liquid conduit. The dosing pump is configured to, upon activation in a first direction and while being in contact only with the first liquid, forward the first liquid from the first liquid container via the first liquid conduit to the milk conduit.

[0016] The system in addition comprises a first valve device, connected to the mixing chamber, to the dosing pump, and to the milk supply source via the milk conduit.

[0017] The first valve device of the system is controllable between a disconnected mode, wherein the milk conduit and the mixing chamber are disconnected; and a dosing mode, wherein the milk conduit and the mixing chamber are connected.

[0018] The system also comprises a controller, communicatively connected to the dosing pump, milk supply regulator, and the first valve device.

[0019] The controller is configured to generate and provide a control signal to the milk supply regulator, to transport milk to the milk conduit while the first valve device is set in the disconnected mode. Also, the controller is configured to, when milk is present in the milk conduit, generate and provide a control signal to the milk supply regulator, to stop transportation of milk to the milk conduit.

[0020] The system is in addition configured to set the first valve device into the dosing mode. Also, system is configured to activate the dosing pump in the first direction, thereby dosing milk into the mixing chamber with the aid of the dosing pump by forwarding the first liquid via the first liquid conduit to the milk conduit, wherein a first liquid front of the first liquid in the milk conduit abuts the milk present therein and pushes the milk forward, causing milk in the milk conduit to progress into the mixing chamber.

[0021] The first valve device and the enabled positioning between disconnected mode and dosing mode enables controlling / assuring that milk actually is present in the milk conduit before activating the dosing pump. Thanks to the activated dosing pump, a very precise dosing of the milk portion of the milk sample is enabled.

[0022] The system may optionally comprise a waste and a waste conduit, connected to the waste and to the first valve device. The controller may be configured to set the first valve device in the disconnected mode, thereby disconnecting the milk conduit and the mixing chamber while connecting the milk conduit and the waste conduit.

[0023] Optionally, the controller may be configured to determine a volume of milk to be provided to the mixing chamber for creating the milk sample; and wherein the dosing of milk into the mixing chamber may be made by activating the dosing pump in the first direction, and forwarding the determined volume of the first liquid via the first liquid conduit to the milk conduit. Thereby, the determined volume of milk in the milk conduit is caused to progress into the mixing chamber.

[0024] The accuracy of the dosing pump allows for a very precise dosing of the milk portion of the milk sample enabling application of the appropriate volume of milk to the mixing chamber.

[0025] Optionally, the controller may also be configured to set the first valve device into the disconnected mode, when milk of the individual animal has been provided to the mixing chamber. The controller may in addition be configured to activate the dosing pump in the first direction, thereby providing the first liquid via the first liquid conduit into the milk conduit, filling the milk conduit with the first liquid. By providing the first liquid into the milk conduit, filling the milk conduit with the first liquid, the conduit is kept liquidised, leading to reduced risks of milk residues in the milk conduit.

[0026] Optionally, the controller may be configured to set the first valve device into the dosing mode, when milk of the individual animal has been provided to the mixing chamber and the milk conduit is filled with the first liquid. The controller may also be configured to activate the dosing pump in the first direction, thereby providing the first liquid via the first liquid conduit, and the milk conduit into the mixing chamber, filling the mixing chamber with the first liquid.

[0027] Thereby, a proportional mixture of milk and the first liquid is provided to the mixing chamber, thanks to the operation of the first valve device between the two distinct modes, and the accuracy of the dosing pump.

[0028] Optionally, the created milk sample may comprise a milk portion of milk from the individual animal and a second liquid portion. The system may comprise a second liquid container, comprising the second liquid; and a second liquid conduit, connected to the second liquid container.

[0029] The system may also comprise a pump connective conduit, connected to the dosing pump; and a second valve device connected to the mixing chamber, to the second liquid container via the second liquid conduit, and to the dosing pump via the pump connective conduit.

[0030] The second valve device may be controllable between a preparation mode, wherein the second liquid conduit may be connected to the pump connective conduit; and a dosing mode, wherein the pump connective conduit may be connected to the mixing chamber while the second liquid conduit is disconnected.

[0031] The system may comprise a third valve arrangement connected to the dosing pump, to the pump connective conduit, and to the milk conduit via the first liquid conduit.

[0032] The third valve arrangement may be controllable between a milk conduit connective mode, wherein the dosing pump may be connected to the milk conduit via the first liquid conduit; and a second liquid connective mode, wherein the dosing pump may be connected via the pump connective conduit to the second valve device.

[0033] The controller may be communicatively connected to the second valve device, and to the third valve arrangement. The controller may be configured to set the third valve arrangement into the second liquid connective mode. Also, the controller may also be configured to activate, while the second valve device is set in the preparation mode, the dosing pump in the second direction, thereby evacuating a portion of the first liquid in the second liquid conduit to the first liquid container while evacuating the same volume of the second liquid from the second liquid container via the second liquid conduit into the pump connective conduit.

[0034] The controller may be configured to set the second valve device in the dosing mode. Also, the controller may be configured to activate the dosing pump in the first direction, thereby dosing the second liquid into the mixing chamber with the aid of the dosing pump by forwarding the first liquid in the pump connective conduit wherein a first liquid front of the first liquid in the pump connective conduit abuts the second liquid therein, causing the second liquid to progress into the mixing chamber.

[0035] Thanks to the intricate operation of the involved valve devices between the respective modes, and the accuracy of the dosing pump a very precise dosing of the milk portion of the milk sample and the second liquid into the mixing chamber is enabled.

[0036] Optionally, the controller may be configured to determine a volume of second liquid to be provided to the mixing chamber for creating the milk sample. The dosing of the second liquid into the mixing chamber may be made by activating the dosing pump in the first direction and forwarding the determined volume of the first liquid in the pump connective conduit; wherein the first liquid abuts the second liquid in the pump connective conduit, thereby causing the determined volume of the second liquid in the pump connective conduit to progress into the mixing chamber.

[0037] The second liquid could thereby be provided to the mixing chamber by the dosing pump, but without allowing the dosing pump to get in contact with the second liquid.

[0038] Optionally, the created milk sample may comprise a first liquid portion, in addition to the milk portion of milk from the individual animal and the second liquid portion. The controller may be configured to determine a volume of the first liquid to be provided to the mixing chamber for creating the milk sample.

[0039] The controller may be configured to, when dosing the second liquid into the mixing chamber while the third valve arrangement may be set into the second liquid connective mode, activate the dosing pump in the first direction. Thereby, dosing both the first liquid and the second liquid into the mixing chamber with the aid of the dosing pump may be enabled by forwarding the determined volume of the first liquid in the pump connective conduit, thereby causing all the second liquid in the pump connective conduit, in addition to the determined volume of the first liquid in the pump connective conduit to progress into the mixing chamber.

[0040] Thanks to the operation of the involved valve devices between the respective modes, the volume calculations and the accuracy of the dosing pump a very precise dosing of the milk portion of the milk sample, the first liquid and the second liquid into the mixing chamber is enabled at the same time, in one stroke.

[0041] Optionally, the controller may be configured to, after having created the milk sample in the mixing chamber; adjust the proportions of the milk portion and the second liquid, respectively, in order to create an adjusted milk sample.

[0042] Also, the controller may be configured to set the third valve arrangement into the milk conduit connective mode. Additionally, the controller may be configured to activate the dosing pump in the second direction, thereby evacuating the milk sample from the mixing chamber with the aid of the dosing pump while the first valve device is set in the dosing mode, into the milk conduit.

[0043] The controller may also be configured to activate, while the second valve device may be set in the preparation mode, the dosing pump in the second direction, thereby evacuating a portion of the first liquid in the pump connective conduit to the first liquid container while evacuating the same volume of the second liquid from the second liquid container via the second liquid conduit into the pump connective conduit.

[0044] Also, the controller may be configured to set the third valve arrangement into the second liquid connective mode, and also set the second valve device in the dosing mode. The controller may also be configured to activate the dosing pump in the first direction, thereby dosing the second liquid into the mixing chamber with the aid of the dosing pump by forwarding the first liquid in the pump connective conduit wherein the first liquid front abuts the second liquid in the pump connective conduit, causing the second liquid to progress into the mixing chamber.

[0045] The controller may also be configured to set the third valve arrangement into the milk conduit connective mode; and set the first valve device in the dosing mode.

[0046] Additionally, the controller may be configured to activate the dosing pump in the first direction, thereby adding the previously evacuated milk sample from the milk conduit to the mixing chamber with the aid of the dosing pump by forwarding the first liquid via the first liquid conduit to the milk conduit, causing the previously evacuated milk sample to enter the mixing chamber, thereby creating the adjusted milk sample together with the added second liquid.

[0047] In some cases, when the milk sample has been provided to the milk analytic device, it may be noted that the proportions between the milk and the first and / or second liquid / s are inappropriate for enabling correct analysis. For example, the milk sample (of the first-attempt proportion) may comprise too small proportion of the second liquid to allow sufficient colouring of cell nucleus (of white blood cells) in the milk sample, to be counted in an efficient way. It may then be desired to prepare the milk sample with more proportion of the second liquid, i.e. , stainer, dye or similar liquid. Thanks to the provided solution, the milk sample of the first- attempt may be reused, but with an added proportion of the second liquid; thereby minimising usage of milk and involved chemicals.

[0048] Optionally, the first liquid may comprise water, demineralised water, water mixed with preservative, acid, cations, and / or anions, a saline solution, a citric acid solution, a phosphoric acid, an acetic acid, or a similar liquid.

[0049] Optionally, the second liquid may comprise a stainer, which is enabled to colour a cell nucleus.

[0050] The stainer is rather expensive. Also, the stainer may have to be handled with special care due to its colouring capacity, fluorescent capacity and / or possibly toxic properties; i.e., it has to be handled with particular care during the milk analysis process. From an environmentally friendly / working environment perspective, it may be desired to minimize or at least reduce the amount of used stainer, while achieving a reliable result of the milk analyses.

[0051] By diluting the milk mixture comprising milk and stainer, with the first liquid, costs and environmental footprint are reduced, while yet achieving a reliable result of the milk analysis.

[0052] Optionally, the system may comprise an agitating member in the mixing chamber, and an actuator, external to the mixing chamber, wherein the actuator may be communicatively connected to the controller.

[0053] The controller may be configured to generate and provide a control signal to the actuator, to bring the agitating member in the mixing chamber into rotation for mixing the milk sample.

[0054] By the rotational movements of the agitating member maintained in the mixing chamber, the milk and the liquid are mixed in a convenient, yet efficient manner. A well-made mixing is a prerequisite for enabling a reliable milk analysis of the milk mixture by the milk analyse device.

[0055] Optionally, the agitating member may comprise a magnet, which may be configured to rotate within the mixing chamber when acted upon by an external magnetic field.

[0056] Thanks to the agitating member in form of a magnet, the rotation of the agitating member could be made without having any rotational mechanism or for example an axle for the agitating member to rotate around. Cleaning problems and possible reparations or maintenance measures associated with such mechanisms are avoided. The external magnetic field may for example be generated by an electrical motor external to the mixing chamber. In case of reparation / maintenance requirements of the external electrical motor, it could easily be replaced with a replacement motor during the repairment, without affecting the milk production.

[0057] Optionally, the agitating member may be covered with a protective coating.

[0058] The protective coating for example in form of plastic or rubber, may protect the magnetic agitating member both from being affected by the milk / liquid, and from harming the internal walls of the mixing chamber. The technical life-time of the agitating member is extended.

[0059] Other advantages and additional novel features will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description.

[0060] FIGURES

[0061] Embodiments of the invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0062] Figure 1 illustrates an example of a system for creating milk samples, according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0063] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0064] Embodiments of the invention described herein are defined as a system, which may be put into practice in the embodiments described below. These embodiments may, however, be exemplified and realised in many different forms and are not to be limited to the examples set forth herein; rather, these illustrative examples of embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete.

[0065] Still other objects and features may become apparent from the following detailed description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the herein disclosed embodiments, for which reference is to be made to the appended claims. Further, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and, unless otherwise indicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein.

[0066] Figure 1 illustrates a system 100 for creating milk samples, wherein each milk sample comprises a milk portion of milk from only one animal. The milk sample may be extracted from a milk line comprising milk during a milking session of the animal.

[0067] The milk is extracted from an animal comprised in a herd of animals for dairy farming at a farm. The system 100 may with advantage, although not necessarily, be implemented in an automatic milking facility such as a milking robot, rotary milking parlour, or similar arrangement. The system 100 may alternatively be applied during manual milking in a milking parlour.

[0068] “Animal” may be any arbitrary type of domesticated female mammal such as e.g., cow, goat, sheep, camel, horse, dairy buffalo, donkey, yak, etc.

[0069] The system 100 may be configured to orchestrate the extraction of the milk sample of the animal during regular milking of the animal, via a milk sampling device 101. The milk sampling device 101 may be configured to extract a milk sample from a milk line comprising milk, i.e. , the milk that has been extracted from one individual animal during the milking session. The extracted milk sample may be for example some few centilitres, or some millilitres.

[0070] The purpose of the milk sample extraction may be to analyse the milk sample, or a part thereof, in a milk analytic instrument 140. The milk analytic instrument 140 may be configured to receive the milk sample and perform an analysis on the received milk sample, for example concerning Mastitis, Ketosis, somatic cell count, etc.

[0071] The system 100 comprises a milk conduit 112, 114, 125, 123, 121 and a milk supply regulator 113. The milk supply regulator 113 is arranged to act on the milk conduit 112, 114, 125, 123,

[0072] 121 , thereby either allowing, or disallowing, passage of milk through the milk conduit 112,

[0073] 114, 125, 123, 121.

[0074] The milk supply regulator 113 may comprise a valve or a pump in different embodiments. The pump may be for example a peristaltic pump, hose pump, roller pump, tube pump, or similar arrangement in different embodiments.

[0075] The milk conduit 112, 114, 125, 123, 121 and possibly also other tubings of the system 100 may comprise a piece of elastic hose comprising or being fabricated of for example plastic (e.g., nylon, polyurethane, polyethylene, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)); or synthetic or natural rubber. The milk conduit 112, 114, 125, 123, 121 may have a substantially circular cross section. The inner diameter of the milk conduit 112, 114, 125, 123, 121 may be for example between 1-5 mm, preferably about 2-3 mm.

[0076] To avoid that any impurities such as dirt, hair, pieces of bedding / fodder and other particles in the extracted milk is forwarded to the milk analytic instrument 140 or other parts of the system 100, the system 100 may comprise a filter device. The filter device may be arranged between the milk sampling device 101 and the milk analytic instrument 140, preferably closer to the milk sampling device 101 than to the milk analytic instrument 140 to disallow entrance of impurities in as large part of the system 100 and the involved tubings as possible.

[0077] The system 100 also comprises a mixing chamber 120, connected to the milk conduit 112, 125, 123, 121.

[0078] The system 100 also comprises a first liquid container 167, comprising a first liquid. The first liquid may comprise for example water, demineralised water, water mixed with preservative, acid, cations, and / or anions, a saline solution, a citric acid solution, a phosphoric acid, an acetic acid, or a similar liquid.

[0079] The system 100 also comprises a first liquid conduit 186, 185, 184, connected to the milk conduit 112, 125, 123, 121. In addition, the system 100 also comprises a dosing pump 166, connected to the first liquid container 167 and to the first liquid conduit 186, 185, 184. The dosing pump 166 is configured to, upon activation in a first direction and while being in contact only with the first liquid, forward the first liquid from the first liquid container 167 via the first liquid conduit 186, 185, 184 to the milk conduit 112, 125, 123, 121. Also, the system 100 also comprises a first valve device 161. The first valve device 161 is connected to the mixing chamber 120, to the dosing pump 166, and to the milk supply source 101 via the milk conduit 112, 125, 123, 121. The first valve device 161 is controllable between a disconnected mode and a dosing mode.

[0080] In the disconnected mode, the milk conduit 112, 125, 123, 121 and the mixing chamber 120 are disconnected from each other. In the dosing mode, the milk conduit 112, 125, 123, 121 and the mixing chamber 120 are connected, thereby allowing milk / liquid to pass.

[0081] The system 100 also comprises a controller 200, communicatively connected to the dosing pump 166, milk supply regulator 113, and the first valve device 161 .

[0082] The controller 200 may comprise one or more instances of a processing circuit configured for performing various calculations for controlling the operations of the system 100 and / or various components thereof such as for example the dosing pump 166, milk supply regulator 113, and the first valve device 161. The controller 200 may also comprise a memory in some embodiments. The optional memory may comprise a physical device utilised to store data or programs, i.e., sequences of instructions, on a temporary or permanent basis. According to some embodiments, the memory may comprise integrated circuits comprising silicon-based transistors. The memory may comprise e.g., a memory card, a flash memory, a USB memory, a hard disc, or another similar volatile or non-volatile storage unit for storing data such as e.g., ROM (Read-Only Memory), PROM (Programmable Read-Only Memory), EPROM (Erasable PROM), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable PROM), etc. in different embodiments.

[0083] The controller 200 is configured to generate and provide a control signal to the milk supply regulator 113, to transport milk to the milk conduit 112, 125, 123, 121 while the first valve device 161 is set in the disconnected mode.

[0084] The controller 200 is also configured to, when milk is present in the milk conduit 112, 125, 123, 121 , generate and provide a control signal to the milk supply regulator 113, to stop transportation of milk to the milk conduit 112, 125, 123, 121. Also, the controller 200 is also configured to set the first valve device 161 into the dosing mode, and activate the dosing pump 166 in the first direction, thereby dosing milk into the mixing chamber 120 with the aid of the dosing pump 166 by forwarding the first liquid via the first liquid conduit 186, 185, 184 to the milk conduit 112, 125, 123, 121 , wherein a first liquid front of the first liquid in the milk conduit 112, 125, 123, 121 abuts the milk present therein and pushes the milk forward, causing milk in the milk conduit 112, 125, 123, 121 to progress into the mixing chamber 120.

[0085] In some embodiments, the system 100 may comprise a waste 150, and a waste conduit 152, connected to the waste 150 and to the first valve device 161.

[0086] The controller 200 may be configured to set the first valve device 161 in the disconnected mode, thereby disconnecting the milk conduit 112, 125, 123, 121 and the mixing chamber 120 while connecting the milk conduit 112, 125, 123, 121 and the waste conduit 152.

[0087] The controller 200 may be configured to determine a volume of milk to be provided to the mixing chamber 120 for creating the milk sample. The dosing of milk into the mixing chamber 120 may be made by activating the dosing pump 166 in the first direction and forwarding the determined volume of the first liquid via the first liquid conduit 186, 185, 184 to the milk conduit 112, 125, 123, 121 , thereby causing the determined volume of milk in the milk conduit 112, 125, 123, 121 to progress into the mixing chamber 120.

[0088] In addition, the controller 200 may also be configured to set the first valve device 161 into the disconnected mode, when milk of the individual animal has been provided to the mixing chamber 120. The controller 200 may then also be configured to activate the dosing pump 166 in the first direction, thereby providing the first liquid via the first liquid conduit 186, 185, 184 into the milk conduit 112, 125, 123, 121 , filling the milk conduit 112, 125, 123, 121 with the first liquid.

[0089] The controller 200 may also be configured to set the first valve device 161 into the dosing mode, when milk of the individual animal has been provided to the mixing chamber 120 and the milk conduit 112, 125, 123, 121 is filled with the first liquid.

[0090] Also, the controller 200 may be configured to activate the dosing pump 166 in the first direction, thereby providing the first liquid via the first liquid conduit 186, 185, 184, and the milk conduit 112, 125, 123, 121 into the mixing chamber 120, filling the mixing chamber 120 with the first liquid.

[0091] In some embodiments, the created milk sample may comprise a milk portion of milk from the individual animal and a second liquid portion. The second liquid may comprise a stainer, which is enabled to colour a cell nucleus.

[0092] The second liquid / stainer, or stainer liquid, may alternatively be referred to as a reagent or (fluorescence) dye. Some non-limiting examples of stainer may be Trypan Blue, Methylene Blue, Pyronin Y-methyl green, Propidium iodide, Safranin.

[0093] By colouring cell nucleus of the milk mixture with the stainer, Somatic Cell Count (SCC) is enabled. SCC is a measure of the number of somatic cells, primarily white blood cells (leukocytes) and possibly epithelial cells, present in milk. SCC is often used as an indicator of milk quality and the health of the animal. High SCC is often associated with mastitis, an inflammation of the mammary gland usually due to infection.

[0094] The somatic cells of a milk sample, thanks to the colouring of the stainer, could then be counted, for example manually by counting the number of coloured cells, or by taking a photo and analyse the images by an image detecting computer program. Yet another possibility may be electronic counting, wherein the milk sample is stained with the stainer and then passed through a flow chamber. As coloured cells pass through a laser beam, they scatter light and fluoresce, thereby enabling counting of the coloured cells.

[0095] After having determined the SCC, the results may be compared to a threshold value, for example 200 000 cells / ml. In some countries / regions, there are legal limits for SCC in milk intended for human consumption (> 400 000 cells / ml in European Union (EU)), as high counts can affect milk quality, shelf life, and its suitability for certain processed products such as cheese.

[0096] Regular monitoring of SCC may be vital for the farmer to ensure the health of their herds and the quality of the produced milk. Sometimes, low SCC may render a payment bonus (and / or high SCC may render a payment reduction) by the milk processor purchasing the milk, for awarding and promoting high milk quality at the farms.

[0097] The system 100 may additionally comprise a second liquid container 130, comprising the second liquid. Also, the system 100 may comprise a second liquid conduit 132, connected to the second liquid container 130; and a pump connective conduit 171 , 128, 183, 184, connected to the dosing pump 166.

[0098] The system may also comprise a second valve device 162 connected to the mixing chamber 120, to the second liquid container 130 via the second liquid conduit 132, and to the dosing pump 166 via the pump connective conduit 171 , 128, 183, 184.

[0099] The second valve device 162 may be controllable between a preparation mode and a dosing mode. When the second valve device 162 is set in the preparation mode, the second liquid conduit 132 may be connected to the pump connective conduit 171 , 128, 183, 184. When the second valve device 162 is set in the dosing mode, the pump connective conduit 171 , 128, 183, 184 may be connected to the mixing chamber 120 while the second liquid conduit 132 is disconnected.

[0100] In some embodiments, the conduit 122 between the second valve device 162 and the mixing chamber 120 may comprise a one-way valve 198, configured to disallow return of milk mixture from the mixing cavity 120, to the liquid container 130 via the second valve device 162.

[0101] The system 100 may in addition comprise a third valve arrangement 163, 165 connected to the dosing pump 166, to the pump connective conduit 171 , 128, 183, 184, and to the milk conduit 112, 125, 123, 121 via the first liquid conduit 186, 185, 184. The third valve arrangement 163, 165 may be controllable between a milk conduit connective mode, wherein the dosing pump 166 may be connected to the milk conduit 112, 125, 123, 121 via the first liquid conduit 186, 185, 184; and a second liquid connective mode, wherein the dosing pump 166 may be connected via the pump connective conduit 171 , 128, 183, 184 to the second valve device 162.

[0102] The controller 200 may be communicatively connected to the second valve device 162, and to the third valve arrangement 163, 165.

[0103] The controller 200 may be configured to set the third valve arrangement 163, 165 into the second liquid connective mode. Also, the controller 200 may be configured to activate, while the second valve device 162 is set in the preparation mode, the dosing pump 166 in the second direction, thereby evacuating a portion of the first liquid in the second liquid conduit 132 to the first liquid container 167 while evacuating the same volume of the second liquid from the second liquid container 130 via the second liquid conduit 132 into the pump connective conduit 171 , 128, 183, 184.

[0104] The controller 200 may also be configured to set the second valve device 162 in the dosing mode. Also, the controller 200 may be configured to activate the dosing pump 166 in the first direction, thereby dosing the second liquid into the mixing chamber 120 with the aid of the dosing pump 166 by forwarding the first liquid in the pump connective conduit 171 , 128, 183, 184 wherein a first liquid front of the first liquid in the pump connective conduit 171 , 128, 183, 184 abuts the second liquid therein, causing the second liquid to progress into the mixing chamber 120. In some embodiments, the controller 200 may be configured to determine a volume of second liquid to be provided to the mixing chamber 120 for creating the milk sample. The dosing of the second liquid into the mixing chamber 120 may be made by activating the dosing pump 166 in the first direction, and forwarding the determined volume of the first liquid in the pump connective conduit 171 , 128, 183, 184 wherein the first liquid abuts the second liquid in the pump connective conduit 171 , 128, 183, 184, thereby causing the determined volume of the second liquid in the pump connective conduit 171 , 128, 183, 184 to progress into the mixing chamber 120.

[0105] The created milk sample may comprise a first liquid portion, in addition to the milk portion of milk from the individual animal and the second liquid portion. Thus, the created milk sample may comprise milk, a stainer, which is enabled to colour a cell nucleus, and also a dilutive liquid such as water, demineralised water, water mixed with preservative, acid, cations, and / or anions, a saline solution, a citric acid solution, a phosphoric acid, an acetic acid, or a similar liquid.

[0106] The controller 200 may be configured to determine a volume of the first liquid to be provided to the mixing chamber 120 for creating the milk sample.

[0107] Also, the controller 200 may be configured to, when dosing the second liquid into the mixing chamber 120 while the third valve arrangement 163, 165 is set into the second liquid connective mode, activate the dosing pump 166 in the first direction, thereby dosing both the first liquid and the second liquid into the mixing chamber 120 with the aid of the dosing pump 166 by forwarding the determined volume of the first liquid in the pump connective conduit 171 , 128, 183, 184, thereby causing all the second liquid in the pump connective conduit 171 , 128, 183, 184, in addition to the determined volume of the first liquid in the pump connective conduit 171 , 128, 183, 184 to progress into the mixing chamber 120.

[0108] The controller 200 may also be configured to, after having created the milk sample in the mixing chamber 120, adjust the proportions of the milk portion and the second liquid, respectively, in order to create an adjusted milk sample. The controller 200 may be configured to set the third valve arrangement 163, 165 into the milk conduit connective mode. In addition, the controller 200 may be configured to activate the dosing pump 166 in the second direction, thereby evacuating the milk sample from the mixing chamber 120 with the aid of the dosing pump 166 while the first valve device 161 is set in the dosing mode, into the milk conduit 112, 125, 123, 121. The controller 200 may be configured to activate, while the second valve device 162 is set in the preparation mode, the dosing pump 166 in the second direction, thereby evacuating a portion of the first liquid in the pump connective conduit 171 , 128, 183, 184 to the first liquid container 167 while evacuating the same volume of the second liquid from the second liquid container 130 via the second liquid conduit 132 into the pump connective conduit 171 , 128, 183, 184.

[0109] The controller 200 may also be configured to set the third valve arrangement 163, 165 into the second liquid connective mode, and to set the second valve device 162 in the dosing mode. Also, the controller may be configured to activate the dosing pump 166 in the first direction, thereby dosing the second liquid into the mixing chamber 120 with the aid of the dosing pump 166 by forwarding the first liquid in the pump connective conduit 171 , 128, 183, 184 wherein the first liquid front abuts the second liquid in the pump connective conduit 171 , 128, 183, 184, causing the second liquid to progress into the mixing chamber 120.

[0110] The controller 200 may in addition be configured to thereafter set the third valve arrangement 163, 165 into the milk conduit connective mode, and also set the first valve device 161 in the dosing mode.

[0111] The controller 200 may also be configured to activate the dosing pump 166 in the first direction, thereby adding the previously evacuated milk sample from the milk conduit 112, 125, 123, 121 to the mixing chamber 120 with the aid of the dosing pump 166 by forwarding the first liquid via the first liquid conduit 186, 185, 184 to the milk conduit 112, 125, 123, 121 , causing the previously evacuated milk sample to enter the mixing chamber 120, thereby creating the adjusted milk sample together with the added second liquid.

[0112] In some embodiments, the system may comprise an agitating member 125 in the mixing chamber 120, and an actuator, external to the mixing chamber 120, wherein the actuator may be communicatively connected to the controller 200.

[0113] The agitating member 125 may comprise a magnet, which may be configured to rotate within the mixing chamber 120 when acted upon by an external magnetic field caused by the actuator. The actuator may comprise a rotating permanent magnet, or electrical magnetic field, for example.

[0114] The agitating member 125 may be covered with a protective coating in some embodiments, such as rubber, plastic or similar.

[0115] The controller 200 may be configured to generate and provide a control signal to the actuator, to bring the agitating member 125 in the mixing chamber 120 into rotation for mixing the milk sample.

[0116] The illustration of the embodiment of the system 100 illustrated in Figure 1 may also comprise a first liquid sensor 115, a second liquid sensor 116 and / or a third liquid sensor 118. The respective liquid sensor 115, 116, 118 is / are enabled to detect air bubbles and / or presence of liquid in the respectively associated fluid connection line 114, 142, 173 and / or other tubing for forwarding milk / liquid and / or milk mixture.

[0117] The respective liquid sensor / s 115, 116, 118 may for example comprise a bubble detector, arranged to be clamped-on the respectively associated fluid connection line 114, 142, 173 and / or other tubing. Based on ultrasonic detection of the bubble detector / s, air bubbles may be detected in the fluid connection line 114, 142, 173 and / or other tubing. Thereby, liquid passage / monitoring is enabled in a non-invasive, contamination-free manner.

[0118] The liquid sensor / s 115, 116, 118 may alternatively comprise e.g., an optical sensor, possibly in combination with an appropriately arranged light source for enabling detection of changes in the detected light level, caused by bubbles scattering / blocking light of the light source. For instance, the light source may be placed on one side of the fluid connection line 114, 142, 173 and / or other tubing, and the optical sensor on the other.

[0119] Other possible alternatives of the optional liquid sensor / s 115, 116, 118 may be capacitive sensors, conductivity sensors, pressure sensors, flow meters, etc.

[0120] The system 100 may also comprise a means for regulating, i.e., allow / disallow passage of milk mixture to / from the milk analytic instrument 140, such as a valve or a pump; i.e., a second pump 117. The second pump 117 may be enabled to forward milk mixture in the milk analytic instrument 140 to waste 150, for example after the milk analysis has been performed on the milk mixture. The second pump 117 may be enabled to maintain a received milk mixture in the milk analytic instrument 140 by preventing milk mixture to pass to waste 150.

[0121] An advantage with using a pump instead of a valve is that the pump could provide a very precise control of the milk mixture passage. Also, the pump could be run in both directions which in turn enable cleaning / rinsing of the involved fluid connection lines. The second pump 117 may be for example a peristaltic pump, hose pump, roller pump, tube pump, or similar arrangement in different embodiments.

[0122] The terminology used in the description of the embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings is not intended to be limiting of the described distribution unit 110. Various changes, substitutions and / or alterations may be made, without departing from invention embodiments as defined by the appended claims.

[0123] As used herein, the term “and / or” comprises any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The term “or” as used herein, is to be interpreted as a mathematical OR, i.e. , as an inclusive disjunction; not as a mathematical exclusive OR (XOR), unless expressly stated otherwise. In addition, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are to be interpreted as “at least one”, thus also possibly comprising a plurality of entities of the same kind, unless expressly stated otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes”, “comprises”, “including” and / or “comprising”, specifies the presence of stated features, actions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, actions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. A single unit such as e.g., a processor may fulfil the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures or features are recited in mutually different dependent claims, illustrated in different figures or discussed in conjunction with different embodiments does not indicate that a combination of these measures or features cannot be used to advantage. A computer program may be stored / distributed on a suitable medium, such as an optical storage medium or a solid-state medium supplied together with or as part of other hardware but may also be distributed in other forms such as via Internet or other wired or wireless communication system.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS1. A system (100) for creating milk samples, wherein each milk sample comprises a milk portion of milk from only one animal, wherein the system (100) comprises: a milk conduit (112, 125, 123, 121); a milk supply regulator (113), arranged to act on the milk conduit (112, 125, 123, 121), thereby either allowing, or disallowing, passage of milk through the milk conduit (112, 125, 123, 121); a mixing chamber (120), connected to the milk conduit (112, 125, 123, 121); a first liquid container (167), comprising a first liquid; a first liquid conduit (186, 185, 184), connected to the milk conduit (112, 125, 123, 121); a dosing pump (166), connected to the first liquid container (167) and to the first liquid conduit (186, 185, 184), wherein the dosing pump (166) is configured to, upon activation in a first direction and while being in contact only with the first liquid, forward the first liquid from the first liquid container (167) via the first liquid conduit (186, 185, 184) to the milk conduit (112, 125, 123, 121); a first valve device (161), connected to the mixing chamber (120), to the dosing pump (166), and to the milk supply source (101) via the milk conduit (112, 125, 123, 121); wherein the first valve device (161) is controllable between a disconnected mode, wherein the milk conduit (112, 125, 123, 121) and the mixing chamber (120) are disconnected; a dosing mode, wherein the milk conduit (112, 125, 123, 121) and the mixing chamber (120) are connected; a controller (200), communicatively connected to the dosing pump (166), milk supply regulator (113), and the first valve device (161); and wherein the controller (200) is configured to: generate and provide a control signal to the milk supply regulator (113), to transport milk to the milk conduit (112, 125, 123, 121) while the first valve device (161) is set in the disconnected mode; when milk is present in the milk conduit (112, 125, 123, 121), generate and provide a control signal to the milk supply regulator (113), to stop transportation of milk to the milk conduit (112, 125, 123, 121); set the first valve device (161) into the dosing mode; and activate the dosing pump (166) in the first direction, thereby dosing milk into the mixing chamber (120) with the aid of the dosing pump (166) by forwarding the first liquid via the first liquid conduit (186, 185, 184) to the milk conduit (112, 125, 123, 121), wherein afirst liquid front of the first liquid in the milk conduit (112, 125, 123, 121) abuts the milk present therein and pushes the milk forward, causing milk in the milk conduit (112, 125, 123, 121) to progress into the mixing chamber (120).

2. The system (100) according to claim 1 , comprising a waste (150); a waste conduit (152), connected to the waste (150) and to the first valve device (161); and wherein the controller (200) is configured to: set the first valve device (161) in the disconnected mode, thereby disconnecting the milk conduit (112, 125, 123, 121) and the mixing chamber (120) while connecting the milk conduit (112, 125, 123, 121) and the waste conduit (152).

3. The system (100) according to any one of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the controller (200) is configured to determine a volume of milk to be provided to the mixing chamber (120) for creating the milk sample; and wherein the dosing of milk into the mixing chamber (120) is made by activating the dosing pump (166) in the first direction, and forwarding the determined volume of the first liquid via the first liquid conduit (186, 185, 184) to the milk conduit (112, 125, 123, 121), thereby causing the determined volume of milk in the milk conduit (112, 125, 123, 121) to progress into the mixing chamber (120).

4. The system (100) according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the controller (200) is configured to: set the first valve device (161) into the disconnected mode, when milk of the individual animal has been provided to the mixing chamber (120); activate the dosing pump (166) in the first direction, thereby providing the first liquid via the first liquid conduit (186, 185, 184) into the milk conduit (112, 125, 123, 121), filling the milk conduit (112, 125, 123, 121) with the first liquid.

5. The system (100) according to claim 4, wherein the controller (200) is configured to set the first valve device (161) into the dosing mode, when milk of the individual animal has been provided to the mixing chamber (120) and the milk conduit (112, 125, 123, 121) is filled with the first liquid; and activate the dosing pump (166) in the first direction, thereby providing the first liquid via the first liquid conduit (186, 185, 184), and the milk conduit (112, 125, 123, 121) into the mixing chamber (120), filling the mixing chamber (120) with the first liquid.

6. The system (100) according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein the created milk sample comprises a milk portion of milk from the individual animal and a second liquid portion; wherein the system (100) comprises: a second liquid container (130), comprising the second liquid; a second liquid conduit (132), connected to the second liquid container (130); a pump connective conduit (171 , 128, 183, 184), connected to the dosing pump (166); a second valve device (162) connected to the mixing chamber (120), to the second liquid container (130) via the second liquid conduit (132), and to the dosing pump (166) via the pump connective conduit (171 , 128, 183, 184); wherein the second valve device (162) is controllable between a preparation mode, wherein the second liquid conduit (132) is connected to the pump connective conduit (171 , 128, 183, 184); and a dosing mode, wherein the pump connective conduit (171 , 128, 183, 184) is connected to the mixing chamber (120) while the second liquid conduit (132) is disconnected; a third valve arrangement (163, 165) connected to the dosing pump (166), to the pump connective conduit (171 , 128, 183, 184), and to the milk conduit (112, 125, 123, 121) via the first liquid conduit (186, 185, 184); wherein the third valve arrangement (163, 165) is controllable between a milk conduit connective mode, wherein the dosing pump (166) is connected to the milk conduit (112, 125, 123, 121) via the first liquid conduit (186, 185, 184); and a second liquid connective mode, wherein the dosing pump (166) is connected via the pump connective conduit (171 , 128, 183, 184) to the second valve device (162); and wherein the controller (200) is communicatively connected to the second valve device (162), and to the third valve arrangement (163, 165), and wherein the controller (200) is configured to set the third valve arrangement (163, 165) into the second liquid connective mode; activate, while the second valve device (162) is set in the preparation mode, the dosing pump (166) in the second direction, thereby evacuating a portion of the first liquid in the second liquid conduit (132) to the first liquid container (167) while evacuating the same volume of the second liquid from the second liquid container (130) via the second liquid conduit (132) into the pump connective conduit (171 , 128, 183, 184); set the second valve device (162) in the dosing mode; activate the dosing pump (166) in the first direction, thereby dosing the second liquid into the mixing chamber (120) with the aid of the dosing pump (166) by forwarding the first liquid in the pump connective conduit (171 , 128, 183, 184) wherein a first liquid front of the first liquid in the pump connective conduit (171 , 128, 183, 184) abuts the second liquidtherein, causing the second liquid to progress into the mixing chamber (120).

7. The system (100) according to claim 6, wherein the controller (200) is configured to determine a volume of second liquid to be provided to the mixing chamber (120) for creating the milk sample; and wherein the dosing of the second liquid into the mixing chamber (120) is made by activating the dosing pump (166) in the first direction, and forwarding the determined volume of the first liquid in the pump connective conduit (171 , 128, 183, 184) wherein the first liquid abuts the second liquid in the pump connective conduit (171 , 128, 183, 184), thereby causing the determined volume of the second liquid in the pump connective conduit (171 , 128, 183, 184) to progress into the mixing chamber (120).

8. The system (100) according to any one of claims 6-7, wherein the created milk sample comprises a first liquid portion, in addition to the milk portion of milk from the individual animal and the second liquid portion; wherein the controller (200) is configured to determine a volume of the first liquid to be provided to the mixing chamber (120) for creating the milk sample; and when dosing the second liquid into the mixing chamber (120) while the third valve arrangement (163, 165) is set into the second liquid connective mode, activate the dosing pump (166) in the first direction, thereby dosing both the first liquid and the second liquid into the mixing chamber (120) with the aid of the dosing pump (166) by forwarding the determined volume of the first liquid in the pump connective conduit (171 , 128, 183, 184), thereby causing all the second liquid in the pump connective conduit (171 , 128, 183, 184), in addition to the determined volume of the first liquid in the pump connective conduit (171 , 128, 183, 184) to progress into the mixing chamber (120).

9. The system (100) according to claim 8, wherein the controller (200) is configured to, after having created the milk sample in the mixing chamber (120): adjust the proportions of the milk portion and the second liquid, respectively, in order to create an adjusted milk sample; set the third valve arrangement (163, 165) into the milk conduit connective mode; activate the dosing pump (166) in the second direction, thereby evacuating the milk sample from the mixing chamber (120) with the aid of the dosing pump (166) while the first valve device (161) is set in the dosing mode, into the milk conduit (112, 125, 123, 121); activate, while the second valve device (162) is set in the preparation mode, the dosing pump (166) in the second direction, thereby evacuating a portion of the first liquid in the pump connective conduit (171 , 128, 183, 184) to the first liquid container (167) while evacuating the same volume of the second liquid from the second liquid container (130) viathe second liquid conduit (132) into the pump connective conduit (171 , 128, 183, 184); set the third valve arrangement (163, 165) into the second liquid connective mode; set the second valve device (162) in the dosing mode; activate the dosing pump (166) in the first direction, thereby dosing the second liquid into the mixing chamber (120) with the aid of the dosing pump (166) by forwarding the first liquid in the pump connective conduit (171 , 128, 183, 184) wherein the first liquid front abuts the second liquid in the pump connective conduit (171 , 128, 183, 184), causing the second liquid to progress into the mixing chamber (120); set the third valve arrangement (163, 165) into the milk conduit connective mode; set the first valve device (161) in the dosing mode; activate the dosing pump (166) in the first direction, thereby adding the previously evacuated milk sample from the milk conduit (112, 125, 123, 121) to the mixing chamber (120) with the aid of the dosing pump (166) by forwarding the first liquid via the first liquid conduit (186, 185, 184) to the milk conduit (112, 125, 123, 121), causing the previously evacuated milk sample to enter the mixing chamber (120), thereby creating the adjusted milk sample together with the added second liquid.

10. The system (100) according to any one of claims 1-9, wherein the first liquid comprises water, demineralised water, water mixed with preservative, acid, cations, and / or anions, a saline solution, a citric acid solution, a phosphoric acid, an acetic acid, or a similar liquid.

11. The system (100) according to any one of claims 6-10, wherein the second liquid comprises a stainer, which is enabled to colour a cell nucleus.

12. The system (100) according to any one of claims 1-11 , comprising an agitating member (125) in the mixing chamber (120), and an actuator, external to the mixing chamber (120), wherein the actuator is communicatively connected to the controller (200); and wherein the controller (200) is configured to generate and provide a control signal to the actuator, to bring the agitating member (125) in the mixing chamber (120) into rotation for mixing the milk sample.

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