Adaptive Milking Control via Real-Time Flow Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing milking technologies fail to optimize milking parameters for individual animals, leading to suboptimal milk throughput and animal treatment, with challenges in accurately determining milk flow and pulsation ratio adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A method using probability values to dynamically adjust milking parameters such as pulsation ratio, pulsation rate, and vacuum levels based on real-time milk flow data, ensuring that the most effective settings are continuously updated and applied for each animal, maximizing milk production while maintaining animal care.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the same vacuum parameters are used for all milking animals, then the device complexity is reduced and operation is simplified, but the milk throughput and animal treatment are suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting milking parameters (vacuum level, pulsation ratio, pulsation rate) based on real-time milk flow measurements for each individual animal. The system transitions from fixed parameters to variable parameters that adapt to each animal's specific milk flow characteristics, thereby increasing milk throughput while maintaining manageable device complexity through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control by continuously measuring milk flow during milking and using this information to adjust vacuum parameters and pulsation settings. The system measures actual milk flow, compares it to expected performance, and automatically modifies milking parameters to optimize throughput, resolving the contradiction between simplified operation and improved productivity.
2Measurement precision
If vacuum levels are varied to test optimal settings, then individual animal optimization is possible, but accurate determination of milk flow becomes difficult due to heavy fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by conducting a vacuum level test during the milking process to identify optimal settings before settling on a stable operating point. The system temporarily varies vacuum levels to measure milk flow response, then uses this information to establish optimal parameters for the remainder of the milking, thereby achieving both accurate measurement and productivity optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by transitioning from static vacuum parameters to dynamic parameters that change during the milking process. The system adjusts vacuum levels and pulsation settings in real-time based on measured milk flow, allowing adaptation to each animal's specific characteristics while maintaining measurement accuracy through controlled parameter variation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If pulsation ratio is decreased when milk flow is above threshold, then animal treatment is improved, but the optimization of pulsation ratio for maximum milk throughput is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the pulsation ratio based on real-time milk flow measurements. Instead of using a fixed threshold-based approach, the system continuously optimizes pulsation ratio to balance animal welfare and milk throughput, finding the optimal point where both objectives are satisfied simultaneously through automated parameter adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control by measuring milk flow and using this information to adjust pulsation ratio settings. The system monitors actual milk flow response to pulsation changes and automatically modifies pulsation parameters to optimize both animal treatment and milk throughput, resolving the contradiction between gentleness and productivity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach increases milk throughput by up to 8% and ensures gentle teat treatment by optimizing milking parameters for each animal, providing a robust and adaptive solution for improved milking efficiency and animal welfare.
Implementation Method 1
A milking vacuum is applied to the interior of each teat receiving liner to draw the milk from the teat
Implementation Method 2
the teat receiving liners periodically opened and collapsed by applications of a pulsation vacuum between the teat receiving liner and the inside of the teat cup shell
Data Source
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Figure 3~4
AI summary
A method for controlling the milking by a milking device comprises to provide (31) probability values for different milking parameter settings capable of being used for the milking of a milk producing animal; to draw (32) a milking parameter setting among the different milking parameter settings based on the probability values for the different milking parameter settings; to control (33) a milking of the milk producing animal such that the drawn milking parameter setting is used during the milking; to fetch (34) a sensed milk flow from the milk producing animal during the milking; to update (35) the probability values for the different milking parameter settings based on the fetched sensed milk flow; to draw (32) a further milking parameter setting among the different milking parameter settings based on the updated probability values for the different milking parameter settings; and to control (33) a following milking of the milk producing animal such that the drawn further milking parameter setting is used during the following milking.