Liquid administration system

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a liquid administration system (100) for creating a liquid mixture. The system (100) comprises a housing (161), a first container (135) with a first liquid and a first configuration tag (170) containing a first identification reference, and a second container (145) with a second liquid and a second configuration tag (180) containing a second identification reference. Both containers are replaceably installable in the housing (161). A tag communicating device (190) communicates with the configuration tags. A controller (200) obtains the identification references via the tag communicating device (190) when the containers are installed, associates them with each other, and allows creation of the liquid mixture only when the identification references are associated with each other.

Description

[0001] IR5518

[0002] 1

[0003] LIQUID ADMINISTRATION SYSTEM

[0004] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0005] The present disclosure relates to a liquid administration system. More particularly, a liquid administration system for creating a liquid mixture using liquids of two respective containers with configuration tags, associated with each other is disclosed.

[0006] BACKGROUND

[0007] It is often desired to create a freshly made liquid mixture for various purposes, for example cleaning, chemical analysis, water treatment, etc.

[0008] In agricultural settings, particularly on dairy farms, chemical analysis of milk is a crucial process for ensuring quality and safety of the milk and the animals.

[0009] The reason may be to investigate whether the animal is suffering from Mastitis, Ketosis, or some disease 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, Urea, etc.

[0010] Milk analysis often involves the use of specialized chemicals, such as enzymes, reagents, or salts, which react with or indicate the presence of specific substances in the milk. This may occur for example when calculating Somatic Cell Count (SCC) of the milk portion of a milk sample. These chemicals are often expensive and must be used judiciously to maintain cost-effectiveness in farm operations.

[0011] To optimize the use of these costly chemicals, they are frequently employed in conjunction with a diluent, commonly water or water with additives. The diluent serves multiple purposes, including flushing tubings, maintaining liquid in the system between samples to prevent residue buildup, and propelling chemical segments through the tubing to their intended destination. This dual-liquid system presents a more economical approach to milk analysis, as the diluent is significantly less expensive than the specialized chemicals.

[0012] However, the administration of two separate liquid containers in milk analysis systems poses several challenges. One primary issue is the potential for one container to be depleted before the other. This situation requires the farmer to replace the empty container, but due to the substantial difference in volume and weight between the chemical and diluent containers, there is a risk of mistakenly replacing the wrong container, i.e. operator may believe that the IR5518

[0013] 2 in comparison light weight container with the chemical is empty, while the case may be the opposite, that the diluent container is empty. Such errors can lead to unnecessary waste of expensive chemicals and unnecessary disruption of the analysis process.

[0014] Another problem arises from the desire to minimize the frequency of container replacements, which can be time-consuming and interrupt farm operations. Yet, maintaining flexibility in container administration is also crucial. Farms with multiple chemical analysis apparatuses may need to transfer partially used containers between machines due to maintenance requirements, software updates, or equipment malfunctions. Additionally, the chemicals and / or diluents typically have expiration dates, making it undesirable to keep containers in inactive apparatuses.

[0015] The automated nature of many milk analysis tests, cleaning processes, etc. presents an additional challenge. These tests / processes often run without human supervision, making it critical to detect malfunctions, leaks, or tubing issues early to prevent extended periods of inaccurate results or system downtime.

[0016] Although the above problems of liquid administration are exemplified in an agricultural environment, corresponding problems will appear in many other technical fields involving mixture of liquids.

[0017] It has been appreciated that a liquid administration system is needed that overcomes one or more of these problems.

[0018] SUMMARY

[0019] It would be advantageous to achieve a convenient solution overcoming, or at least alleviating, at least some of the above-mentioned drawback(s). In particular, it would be desirable to improve liquid administration of a system.

[0020] In a first aspect, a liquid administration system of liquids used to create a liquid mixture is provided. The system comprises a housing and a first container comprising a first liquid. The first container is arranged to be replaceably installed in the housing. The system also comprises a second container comprising a second liquid. The second container is also arranged to be replaceably installed in the housing.

[0021] The system in addition comprises a first configuration tag, attached to the first container. The first configuration tag comprises a first identification reference of the first container. IR5518

[0022] 3

[0023] The system also comprises a second configuration tag, attached to the second container, wherein the second configuration tag comprises a second identification reference of the second container.

[0024] In addition, the system comprises a tag communicating device, arranged to communicate with the first configuration tag and the second configuration tag, and a controller.

[0025] The controller is configured to obtain, via the tag communicating device, the first identification reference from the first configuration tag when the first container is installed in the housing. Also, the controller is configured to obtain, via the tag communicating device, the second identification reference from the second configuration tag when the second container is installed in the housing.

[0026] The controller is also configured to associate the first identification reference with the second identification reference, thereby creating a pairof associated containers. The controller is configured to allow creation of the liquid mixture comprising the first liquid and the second liquid only when the first identification reference and the second identification reference are associated with each other.

[0027] This liquid administration system provides a robust method for ensuring that only properly associated / paired containers are used together, reducing the risk of incorrect liquid combinations and improving the overall efficiency and safety of the liquid mixture creation process.

[0028] The controller may also be configured to check if any one of the obtained identification references has / have been previously associated with any other identification reference. Also, the controller may be configured to associate the first identification reference with the second identification reference only when none of them has been previously associated with the other identification reference.

[0029] The controller may be configured to disallow association of the first identification reference with the second identification reference when one of the obtained identification references has been previously associated with the other identification reference.

[0030] This feature prevents the accidental or unauthorized association / pairing of containers that have already been associated / paired with other containers, further enhancing the system's ability to maintain proper liquid combinations and prevent errors. IR5518

[0031] 4

[0032] Optionally, the first container and the second container may be size-matched to become consumed approximately simultaneously when creating the liquid mixture for a predetermined number of times.

[0033] The liquid mixture is created by mixing the first liquid in the first container with the second liquid in the second container at a predetermined ratio, such as for example 1 :2, 1 :3, 1 :4, etc. By size-matching the containers according to the predetermined ratio, it is ensured that both liquids are depleted at approximately the same rate, reducing waste and minimizing the frequency of container replacements, thereby improving operational efficiency by minimising down-time of the system as well as working time of the operator.

[0034] Optionally, the system may comprise a first memory device of the first configuration tag comprising data concerning amount of the first liquid in the first container. The system may also comprise a second memory device of the second configuration tag comprising data concerning amount of the second liquid in the second container. Furthermore, the tag communicating device may be arranged to write data to the first memory device and to the second memory device.

[0035] The controller may be configured to obtain data concerning the amount of the first liquid in the first container and the amount of the second liquid in the second container. Also, the controller may be configured to determine the consumed amount of the first liquid and the second liquid, respectively, during creation of the mixture. The controller may be configured to calculate the remaining amount of the first liquid in the first container and the second liquid in the second container, based on the obtained data concerning the amount of the first liquid in the first container and the second liquid in the second container, and the consumed amount of the first liquid and the consumed amount of the second liquid, respectively, as determined. In addition, the controller may be configured to write, via the tag communicating device, the remaining amount of the first liquid in the first container to the first memory device and the remaining amount of the second liquid in the second container to the second memory device.

[0036] This feature allows for real-time tracking of liquid amounts in both liquid containers, enabling more accurate monitoring of consumption amounts and facilitating timely replacements, thereby minimizing system downtime and optimizing resource management.

[0037] The controller may be configured to determine, based on obtained data concerning the IR5518

[0038] 5 amount of the first liquid in the first container and the amount of the second liquid in the second container; and trigger an alert if one container is finished before the other.

[0039] This alert mechanism helps prevent situations where one container is depleted before the other, reducing the risk of system malfunction and ensuring continuous operation of the liquid administration system. In case one of the containers is emptied before the other, it is likely a consequence of a leakage or malfunction of some kind. By triggering an alert, the leakage / malfunction is discovered at an early stage and severe damages or stand-still of the system is avoided.

[0040] The controller may be configured to compare obtained data concerning the amount of the first liquid in the first container and the amount of the second liquid in the second container with an expected respective amount according to an expected consumption rate when making the mixture. The controller may also be configured to trigger an alert for checking the liquid administration system for leakage when the obtained amount is lower than the expected amount, and / or trigger an alert for checking the liquid administration system for blockage when the obtained amount exceeds than the expected amount.

[0041] This feature enables early detection of potential system issues such as leaks or blockages, allowing for prompt maintenance and preventing more serious malfunctions or inaccuracies in the liquid mixture creation process.

[0042] The controller may be configured to repeatedly track consumed amount of the first liquid and the second liquid, respectively, based on the obtained data concerning the amount of the first liquid and the second liquid in the respective container before creation of the liquid mixture, and also based on the consumed amount of the first liquid and the second liquid. The controller may also be configured to predict when the containers will need replacement based on the tracked consumption amounts; and generate a reminder to replace the containers before the containers are predicted to require replacement.

[0043] This predictive maintenance feature optimizes the container replacement process, reducing unexpected downtime and ensuring a more efficient and continuous operation of the liquid administration system.

[0044] The first configuration tag and the second configuration tag may comprise a respective machine-readable code. The tag communicating device may comprise an optical sensor. IR5518

[0045] 6

[0046] Utilizing machine-readable codes and optical sensors provides a reliable and efficient method for identifying and communicating with the containers, enhancing the overall accuracy and speed of the system's operations.

[0047] The first configuration tag and the second configuration tag may comprise a respective Near Field Communication tag. The tag communicating device may comprise an antenna device.

[0048] Implementing Near Field Communication technology allows for seamless and secure communication between the containers and the system, improving data transfer reliability and reducing the risk of unauthorized access or tampering.

[0049] The system may comprise a plurality of housings. The first container and the associated second container may be moveable between different housings as long as they are associated with each other.

[0050] This feature provides flexibility in the use of container pairs across multiple housings, allowing for efficient resource allocation and system maintenance without compromising the integrity of the container associations.

[0051] Optionally, the system may further comprise: a third container comprising a third liquid, wherein the third container may be arranged to be replaceably installed in the housing. The system may also comprise a third configuration tag, attached to the third container, wherein the third configuration tag comprises a third identification reference of the third container. The tag communicating device may be arranged to communicate with the third configuration tag.

[0052] The controller may be configured to obtain the third identification reference from the third configuration tag.. The controller may be configured to associate the third identification reference with the first identification reference and also the second identification reference. The controller may be configured to allow creation of the liquid mixture comprising the first liquid, the second liquid, and the third liquid only when the third identification reference is associated with the first identification reference and the second identification reference.

[0053] This expansion to include a third container in the system increases the versatility of the liquid administration system, allowing for more complex liquid mixtures while maintaining the same level of control and safety concerning management of the container associations. IR5518

[0054] 7

[0055] The controller may be configured to check if the obtained third identification reference has been previously associated with any other identification reference. The controller may also be configured to associate the third identification reference with the first identification reference and also the second identification reference, only when the third identification reference has not been previously associated with any other identification reference.

[0056] The housing may comprise a first compartment dedicated to and dimensioned for the first container and a second compartment dedicated to and dimensioned for the second container.

[0057] Dedicated compartments for each container type / size ensure proper placement and reduce the risk of container mix-ups, further enhancing the system's reliability and ease of use.

[0058] The system may comprise a milk analysis instrument, configured to analyse a property of a milk sample in an agricultural environment, wherein the milk sample may be created by the liquid mixture in addition to milk.

[0059] This feature tailors the liquid administration system for specific use in dairy farm environments, providing a valuable tool for milk quality control and analysis.

[0060] The first liquid of the first container and the second liquid of the second container may comprise any of a detergent, an acid cleaner, a chlorinated alkaline, Iodine-based sanitizers, Quaternary ammonium compounds, Hydrogen peroxide-based cleaners, Peracetic acid, Enzymatic cleaners and / or a diluent; and wherein the created liquid mixture may be used for cleaning of milking equipment in an agricultural environment.

[0061] This configuration adapts the liquid administration system for use in cleaning and sanitizing milking equipment, contributing to improved hygiene and milk quality in dairy operations.

[0062] The first liquid of the first container and the second liquid of the second container may comprise any of: non-irritating cleanser for udder wash, teat dips for disinfecting teats after-milking, insect repellents, soap, medicated shampoos, fur conditioner, moisturizers, antiseptic wound spray, skin lotion, sunscreen, hydrating gel, hydrocortisone cream, antibiotic ointment, anti-fungal cream, corticosteroid cream, and / or water; and wherein the created liquid mixture may be used for exterior application on an animal.

[0063] This versatile configuration allows the liquid administration system to be used for various IR5518

[0064] 8 animal care applications, improving animal health and welfare in agricultural settings.

[0065] Other advantages and additional novel features will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description.

[0066] FIGURES

[0067] Embodiments of the invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0068] Figure 1 illustrates an example of a liquid administration system for creating a liquid mixture, according to an embodiment.

[0069] Figure 2 illustrates an example of a liquid administration system for creating a liquid mixture for milk analysis.

[0070] Figure 3 illustrates an example of a liquid administration system for creating a liquid mixture for cleaning.

[0071] Figure 4 illustrates an example of a liquid administration system for creating a liquid mixture for external application of a liquid to an animal.

[0072] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0073] Embodiments of the invention described herein are defined as a liquid administration system for creating liquid mixtures, 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.

[0074] 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.

[0075] Figure 1 illustrates a liquid administration system 100 of liquids used to create a liquid mixture. The liquid mixture may be created by a first liquid comprised in a first container 135, IR5518

[0076] 9 and a second liquid, comprised in a second container 145.

[0077] The first container 135 and the second container 145 are arranged to be replaceably installed in a housing 161 of the liquid administration system 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the liquid administration system 100 also comprises a third container 250, also installed in the housing 161.

[0078] A first configuration tag 170 is attached to the first container 135 and a second configuration tag 180 is attached to the second container 145. The first configuration tag 170 comprises a first identification reference of the first container 135 while the second configuration tag 180 comprises a second identification reference of the second container 145.

[0079] The first identification reference may comprise a set of integers, letters, signs, codes, etc., which identifies the first container 135. The second identification reference correspondingly is arranged to identify the second container 145.

[0080] A tag communicating device 190 of the system 100 is arranged to communicate with the first configuration tag 170 and the second configuration tag 180.

[0081] The liquid administration system 100 also comprises a controller 200. The controller 200 is configured to obtain, via the tag communicating device 190, the first identification reference from the first configuration tag 170 when the first container 135 is installed in the housing 161. Also, the controller 200 is configured to obtain, via the tag communicating device 190, the second identification reference from the second configuration tag 180 when the second container 145 is installed in the housing 161.

[0082] The controller 200 is configured to associate the first identification reference with the second identification reference, thereby creating a pair of associated containers 135, 145.

[0083] The controller 200 may also be configured to check if any one of the obtained identification references has / have been previously associated with any other identification reference, and to only associate the first identification reference with the second identification reference when none of them has been previously associated with the other identification reference. The controller 200 is configured to allow creation of the liquid mixture comprising the first liquid and the second liquid only when the first identification reference and the second identification reference are associated with each other. IR5518

[0084] 10

[0085] The first configuration tag 170 and the second configuration tag 180 may comprise various types of machine-readable codes in some embodiments, for encoding the respective identification references. For example, the machine-readable codes may comprise barcodes, such as one-dimensional linear barcodes or two-dimensional barcodes. Some examples of onedimensional linear barcodes may be e.g. Universal Product Code (UPC), European Article Number (EAN) code, or Code 39. Some examples of two-dimensional barcodes may be e.g. Quick Response (QR) code, Data Matrix codes, Aztec codes, etc.

[0086] The machine-readable code may alternatively comprise an Optical Character Recognition (OCR) code, which may include human-readable alphanumeric characters that can be scanned and interpreted by machines. The tag communicating device 190 may in those embodiments comprise an optical sensor.

[0087] Other examples of optical machine-readable code may be a colour code, where different colours or colour combinations represent specific information; or alternatively dot patterns of digital paper technologies.

[0088] The optical machine-readable code may alternatively be based on light on wave lengths outside the visual spectrum visible for humans such as ultraviolet light, or infrared light, in combination with the tag communicating device 190 comprising the optical sensor arranged for detecting ultraviolet light, or infrared light.

[0089] Alternatively, the machine-readable code may be based on radio technology, such as for example Radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags, Near-field communication (NFC) tags, etc. In those embodiments, the tag communicating device 190 may comprise an antenna device.

[0090] In yet some alternative embodiments, the machine-readable code may be based on magnetism, i.e. a comprise a Magnetic stripe code. The tag communicating device 190 may in those embodiments comprise a magnetic reading head.

[0091] The controller 200 may be implemented as a microprocessor, microcontroller, or other suitable processing device capable of executing instructions and performing the various functions described. In some embodiments, the controller 200 may comprise or be connected, directly or via a communication network, to a database 210 for storing data, such as for example obtained respective identification references of containers 135, 145 associated with each other. IR5518

[0092] 11

[0093] In other embodiments, the controller 200 may write and store identification references of containers 135, 145 associated with each other in a first memory device 220 of the first configuration tag 170, and / or in a second memory device 230 of the second configuration tag 180. The communication may be made via the tag communicating device 190 and a first antenna 221 of the first configuration tag 170, and / or a second antenna 231 of the second configuration tag 180.

[0094] The controller 200 may be programmed to perform various tasks related to managing the liquid administration system 100. For example, the controller 200 may monitor the respective liquid amounts in the containers 135, 145, track usage amounts, manage associations between containers 135, 145, control dosing units, and interface with analysis instruments.

[0095] In some implementations, the controller 200 may utilize machine learning algorithms to optimize system performance over time. This could involve analysing historical data to improve predictions of container replacement timing or refine mixture ratios.

[0096] The controller 200 may also comprise networking capabilities, allowing it to communicate with external systems or devices. This could enable remote monitoring, data logging, or integration with broader farm management systems in agricultural applications, industry, production site, etc.

[0097] Safety features may be incorporated into the controller's programming. For instance, it may comprise error checking routines to prevent incompatible liquids from being mixed or to halt operations if unexpected conditions are detected.

[0098] The controller's user interface may be customizable, potentially offering different modes or access levels for operators with varying degrees of technical expertise. This flexibility could make the system more user-friendly and reduce the risk of operator error.

[0099] As illustrated in the example in Figure 1 , the liquid administration system 100 may comprise also a third container 250 in some embodiments. The third container 250 may comprise a third liquid. The third container 250 may be arranged to be replaceably installed in the housing 161. A third configuration tag 260 may be attached to the third container 250. The third configuration tag 260 may comprise a third identification reference of the third container 250. The third configuration tag 260 may comprise a third memory device 270, and a third antenna 280. IR5518

[0100] 12

[0101] The housing 161 may comprise one or several compartments 162, 163, 164, each compartment 162, 163, 164 may be dedicated to and dimensioned to house a respective container 135, 145, 250. A respective connection interface of a tubing may be arranged at each compartment 162, 163, 164, making it impossible or at least very difficult to mix up the first, second and third containers 135, 145, 250 during installation in the housing 161.

[0102] The respective amounts of the different liquids in the containers 135, 145, 250 may be size matched in some embodiments, to become consumed approximately simultaneously when creating the liquid mixture for a predetermined number of times. Thereby, all the containers 135, 145, 250 may be exchanged simultaneously, thereby minimising / reducing the number of times an operator has to visit the housing 161 and exchange the containers 135, 145, 250, and standstill of the liquid administration system 100 associated therewith.

[0103] Also, as a consequence, leakage / blockage of any part of the liquid administration system 100 becomes detectable. In case the size matched containers 135, 145, 250 are not emptied at about the same time, an alert may be triggered for the operator, for example via a communication device 290 of the operator to come and inspect the liquid administration system 100 for leaks. The wireless communication capabilities and mobile device integration allow for real-time monitoring and maintenance of the system.

[0104] Figure 2 illustrates a liquid administration system 100 for milk analysis. The system 100 comprises a milk sampling device 110 connected to a milk dosing unit 120 via tubing 121. The milk sampling device 110 is arranged to divide a milk portion of milk extracted from an individual animal, or a milk portion of milk from a group of animals. The milk dosing unit 120 may comprise a pump or a valve, for example. Via the tubing 121 , the milk portion may be forwarded to a chamber 150.

[0105] An advantage with using a pump instead of a valve is that the pump could provide a very precise control of the liquid passage. Also, the pump could be run in both directions which in turn enable cleaning / rinsing of the involved tubings in some embodiments.

[0106] Some examples of pumps for this purpose may be for example a peristaltic pump, hose pump, roller pump, tube pump, or similar arrangement in different embodiments.

[0107] The milk may be divided from an animal during a milking session, for example in a milking robot or other milking equipment. IR5518

[0108] 13

[0109] The purpose of the milk portion extraction is to create a sample. The sample comprises the mixture of milk and a liquid / mixture / chemical. Thereby, analysis of the created sample is enabled. The analysis may be made by a milk analytic instrument 160.

[0110] “Animal” in this context may be any arbitrary type of domesticated female mammal capable of producing milk for human consumption such as e.g., cow, goat, sheep, camel, horse, dairy buffalo, donkey, yak, etc.

[0111] The liquid administration system 100 is controlled by a controller 200, which may be connected to a database 210.

[0112] The controller 200 is configured to control the dosing of the divided milk portion to the chamber 150 via control signals to the communicatively connected milk dosing unit 120. The controller 200 is also configured to create the liquid mixture of the first liquid of the first container 135 and the second liquid of the second container 145 via a first liquid dosing device 130 arranged to provide the first liquid from the first container 135 and via a second liquid dosing device 140 arranged to provide the first liquid from the second container 145.

[0113] Both the first container 135 and the second container 145 are housed within a housing 161.

[0114] The first container 135 is associated with a first configuration tag 170, while the second container 145 is associated with a second configuration tag 180. One or several tag communicating devices 190 may be positioned to interact with the configuration tags 170, 180. For example, one respective tag communicating device 190 may be positioned to interact with the first configuration tag 170 at the first container 135 when the first container 135 is installed in the housing 161 and another tag communicating device 190 may be positioned to interact with the second configuration tag 180 at the second container 145 when the second container 145 is installed in the housing 161 , etc.

[0115] The controller 200 is configured to obtain, via the tag communicating device / s 190, the first identification reference from the first configuration tag 170 when the first container 135 is installed in the housing 161 . Also, the controller 200 is configured to obtain, via the tag communicating device / s 190, the second identification reference from the second configuration tag 180 when the second container 145 is installed in the housing 161.

[0116] The controller 200 is configured to associate the first identification reference with the second IR5518

[0117] 14 identification reference.

[0118] The controller 200 may in some embodiments be configured to check if any one of the obtained identification references has / have been previously associated with any other identification reference and associate the first identification reference with the second identification reference only when none of them has been previously associated with the other identification reference.

[0119] The containers 135, 145 may in optional embodiments form a pair with known respective identification references for example during production, selling, distribution, etc., before arriving at the installation site, such as for example a farm. The first identification reference of the first container 135 may then be stored in a database associated with the second identification reference of the second container 145, thereby forming a pair of associated containers. The containers 135, 145 may then be sold and distributed in pairs.

[0120] The controller 200 may for example, during installation of the containers 135, 145 in the housing 161 , obtain the respective identification references from the configuration tags 170, 180 of the containers 135, 145, and via a network connection to the database compare the obtained identification references with the identification references stored in the database.

[0121] Also, the controller 200 is configured to allow creation of the liquid mixture in the chamber 150 comprising the first liquid and the second liquid in addition to the milk portion, only when the first identification reference and the second identification reference are associated with each other.

[0122] The mixed sample may then be analysed by the milk analysis instrument 160, which may be a sensor arranged to capture an image of the sample, for example for enabling counting of somatic cells in the milk portion.

[0123] In some embodiments, the first container 135 may contain a chemical reagent, while the second container 145 may contain a diluent. The system 100 may create the liquid mixture by combining precise amount of the chemical reagent and precise amount of the diluent for milk analysis.

[0124] In some cases, the configuration tags 170, 180 may provide information about the contents and amounts of the liquids in the containers 135, 145 to the controller 200 via the tag communicating device 190. This information may be used to ensure proper mixing ratios and to IR5518

[0125] 15 alert when container replacement is necessary.

[0126] The liquid administration system 100 may be used in agricultural environments for efficient and accurate milk analysis. The system's design allows for precise control of liquid mixing, which may improve the reliability and consistency of milk analysis results.

[0127] Figure 3 illustrates an embodiment of a liquid administration system 100. The illustrated liquid administration system 100 may be arranged to create a liquid mixture for cleaning, for example of milking equipment, milk line, milk tank, etc., in an agricultural environment.

[0128] An optional cleaning unit 310 may be connected to the first container 135 and the second container 145; wherein the first liquid in the first container 135 may comprise detergent and the second container 145 may comprise a diluent such as water. The liquid administration system 100 may create the liquid mixture for cleaning based on the first liquid and the second liquid and provide the mixture to the cleaning unit 310.

[0129] The controller 200 may be configured to control a pump 320 to forward cleaning liquid mixture in the cleaning unit 310 to the milking equipment in form of milking robot 110, milk tubings 121 , milk tank 330, etc. The cleaning mixture may be brought into circulation within the milking equipment for a certain period of time during the cleaning session, according to a cleaning schedule.

[0130] In various embodiments, the containers 135, 145 of the liquid administration system 100 may comprise any of a detergent, an acid cleaner, a chlorinated alkaline, Iodine-based sanitizers, Quaternary ammonium compounds, Hydrogen peroxide-based cleaners, Peracetic acid, Enzymatic cleaners and / or a diluent.

[0131] Different liquids may be applied at different periodicity according to the cleaning schedule. The cleaning time of each cleaning session may also be of different length, according to the cleaning schedule.

[0132] Figure 4 illustrates an embodiment of a liquid administration system 100. The illustrated liquid administration system 100 may be arranged to create a liquid mixture for appliance on the animal itself, for example for cleaning purpose, for anti-septic reasons, to apply sunscreen, insect repellents, teat skin moisturiser etc.

[0133] An optional mixing unit 315 may be connected to the first container 135 and the second IR5518

[0134] 16 container 145. An appropriate liquid mixture comprising the first liquid and the second liquid may be mixed therein.

[0135] The controller 200 may be configured to control a pump 320 to forward the liquid mixture via a nozzle 410 to apply the liquid mixture externally to an external part of the animal 420, for example, but not necessarily, the teats.

[0136] The first liquid and / or the second liquid may comprise any one of non-irritating cleanser for udder wash, teat dips for disinfecting teats after-milking, insect repellents, soap, medicated shampoos, fur conditioner, moisturizers, antiseptic wound spray, skin lotion, sunscreen, hydrating gel, hydrocortisone cream, antibiotic ointment, anti-fungal cream, corticosteroid cream, water.

[0137] The terminology used in the description of the embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings is not intended to be limiting of the described liquid administration system 100. Various changes, substitutions and / or alterations may be made, without departing from invention embodiments as defined by the appended claims.

[0138] 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, opera-ti-ons, ele-ments, 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 are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

Claims

IR551817PATENT CLAIMS1. A liquid administration system (100) of liquids used to create a liquid mixture, wherein the system (100) comprises: a housing (161); a first container (135) comprising a first liquid; wherein the first container (135) is arranged to be replaceably installed in the housing (161); a first configuration tag (170), attached to the first container (135); wherein the first configuration tag (170) comprises a first identification reference of the first container (135); a second container (145) comprising a second liquid; wherein the second container (145) is arranged to be replaceably installed in the housing (161); a second configuration tag (180), attached to the second container (145); wherein the second configuration tag (180) comprises a second identification reference of the second container (145); a tag communicating device (190), arranged to communicate with the first configuration tag (170) and the second configuration tag (180); a controller (200), configured to obtain, via the tag communicating device (190), the first identification reference from the first configuration tag (170) when the first container (135) is installed in the housing (161); obtain, via the tag communicating device (190), the second identification reference from the second configuration tag (180) when the second container (145) is installed in the housing (161); associate the first identification reference with the second identification reference, thereby creating a pair of associated containers (135, 145); and allow creation of the liquid mixture comprising the first liquid and the second liquid only when the first identification reference and the second identification reference are associated with each other.

2. The liquid administration system (100) according to claim 1 wherein the controller (200) is configured to: check if any one of the obtained identification references has / have been previously associated with any other identification reference; and associate the first identification reference with the second identification reference only when none of them has been previously associated with the other identificationreference3. The liquid administration system (100) according to claim 2 wherein the controller (200) is configured to: disallow association of the first identification reference with the second identification reference when one of the obtained identification references has been previously associated with the other identification reference.

4. The liquid administration system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first container (135) and the second container (145) are size-matched to become consumed approximately simultaneously when creating the liquid mixture for a predetermined number of times.

5. The liquid administration system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a first memory device (220) of the first configuration tag (170) comprises data concerning amount of the first liquid in the first container (135); a second memory device (240) of the second configuration tag (180) comprises data concerning amount of the second liquid in the second container (145); wherein the tag communicating device (190) is arranged to write data to the first memory device (220) and to the second memory device (240); and wherein the controller (200) is configured to obtain data concerning the amount of the first liquid in the first container (135) and the amount of the second liquid in the second container (145); determine the consumed amount of the first liquid and the second liquid, respectively, during creation of the mixture; calculate the remaining amount of the first liquid in the first container (135) and the second liquid in the second container (145), based on the obtained data concerning the amount of the first liquid in the first container (135) and the second liquid in the second container (145), and the consumed amount of the first liquid and the consumed amount of the second liquid, respectively, as determined; and write, via the tag communicating device (190), the remaining amount of the first liquid in the first container (135) to the first memory device (220); and the remaining amount of the second liquid in the second container (145) to the second memory device (240).IR5518196. The liquid administration system (100) according to claim 5 wherein the controller (200) is configured to determine, based on obtained data concerning the amount of the first liquid in the first container (135) and the amount of the second liquid in the second container (145); and trigger an alert if one container (135, 145) is finished before the other.

7. The liquid administration system (100) according to any one of claims 5-6 wherein the controller (200) is configured to compare obtained data concerning the amount of the first liquid in the first container (135) and the amount of the second liquid in the second container (145) with an expected respective amount according to an expected consumption rate when making the mixture; and trigger an alert for checking the liquid administration system (100) for leakage when the obtained amount is lower than the expected amount; or trigger an alert for checking the liquid administration system (100) for blockage when the obtained amount exceeds the respective expected amount.

8. The liquid administration system (100) according to any one of claims 5-7 wherein the controller (200) is configured to repeatedly track consumed amount of the first liquid and the second liquid, respectively, based on the obtained data concerning the respective amount of the first liquid and the second liquid; and the consumed amount of the first liquid and the second liquid, respectively; predict when the first and second containers (135, 145) will need replacement based on the tracked consumption amounts; and generate a reminder to replace the containers (135, 145) before the first and second containers (135, 145) are predicted to require replacement.

9. The liquid administration system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first configuration tag (170) and the second configuration tag (180) comprises a respective machine-readable code; and the tag communicating device (190) comprises an optical sensor.

10. The liquid administration system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first configuration tag (170) and the second configuration tag (180) comprises aIR551820 respective Near Field Communication tag; and the tag communicating device (190) comprises an antenna device.

11. The liquid administration system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a plurality of housings (161); and wherein the first container (135) and the associated second container (145) are moveable between different housings (161) as long as they are associated with each other.

12. The liquid administration system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the system (100) comprises: a third container (250) comprising a third liquid; wherein the third container (250) is arranged to be replaceably installed in the housing (161); a third configuration tag (260), attached to the third container (250); wherein the third configuration tag (260) comprises a third identification reference of the third container (250); and wherein the tag communicating device (190) is arranged to communicate with the third configuration tag (260); the controller (200) is configured to obtain the third identification reference from the third configuration tag (250); associate the third identification reference with the first identification reference and also the second identification reference; and allow creation of the liquid mixture comprising the first liquid, the second liquid, and the third liquid only when the third identification reference is associated with the first identification reference and the second identification reference.

13. The liquid administration system (100) according to claim 12 wherein the controller (200) is configured to check if the obtained third identification reference has been previously associated with any other identification reference; and associate the third identification reference with the first identification reference and also the second identification reference only when the third identification reference has not been previously associated with any other identification reference.

14. The liquid administration system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (161) comprises a first compartment (162) dedicated to and dimensioned for the first container (135) and a second compartment (163) dedicated to andIR551821 dimensioned for the second container (145).

15. The liquid administration system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a milk analysis instrument (160), configured to analyse a property of a milk sample in an agricultural environment, wherein the milk sample is created by the liquid mixture in addition to milk.

16. The liquid administration system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first liquid of the first container (135) and the second liquid of the second container (145) comprises any of a detergent, an acid cleaner, a chlorinated alkaline, Iodine- based sanitizers, Quaternary ammonium compounds, Hydrogen peroxide-based cleaners, Peracetic acid, Enzymatic cleaners and / or a diluent; and wherein the created liquid mixture is used for cleaning of milking equipment in an agricultural environment.

17. The liquid administration system (100) according to any one of claims 1-15, wherein the first liquid of the first container (135) and the second liquid of the second container (145) comprises any of: non-irritating cleanser for udder wash, teat dips for disinfecting teats after-milking, insect repellents, soap, medicated shampoos, fur conditioner, moisturizers, antiseptic wound spray, skin lotion, sunscreen, hydrating gel, hydrocortisone cream, antibiotic ointment, anti-fungal cream, corticosteroid cream, water; and wherein the created liquid mixture is used for exterior application on an animal.

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