Automatic Milking Trolleys with Flexible Lines for Tangle Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic milking systems face inefficiencies due to the large, cumbersome master stations that obstruct animal movement, require time to deliver milk, and risk entanglement of milk lines, leading to reduced efficiency and safety hazards.
Innovation Solution
A system with a stationary accommodation space and fixed milk storage tank, utilizing autonomous self-propelled trolleys with flexible milk lines that connect milking cups to teats while traveling between fixed milking stations, eliminating the need for a mobile milk storage unit and reducing line entanglement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a mobile master station with milk storage tank is used, then the system can provide automatic milking capability, but the master station obstructs animal movement and reduces safety
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the milking function into separate components: autonomous trolleys perform milking at stationary milking stations, while the mobile master station only collects milk from fixed milk receivers. This segmentation removes the large milk storage tank from the mobile unit, eliminating obstruction of animal movement while preserving automatic milking capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The milk storage tank is extracted from the mobile master station and replaced with fixed milk receivers at stationary milking stations. The master station only carries small-capacity receivers during movement, eliminating the harmful effect of large tank obstruction while maintaining the core automatic milking function through trolley-based teat cup attachment and milk collection.
2Extent of automation
If a mobile master station delivers milk during milking operations, then milk collection is integrated, but time is lost for delivery instead of milking
Solution Approach 1:
Milk is collected in stationary receivers during the milking process itself, rather than being stored in the mobile master station. The master station then quickly moves between receivers to transfer milk, performing a preliminary collection action that separates the time-consuming milking operation from the faster milk transfer operation, eliminating time loss.
3Length of moving object
If flexible milk lines connect mobile trolleys to milk storage, then mobility is enabled, but lines become entangled and create safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The milk line connection is segmented into two parts: a short flexible line connecting the trolley to the fixed milk receiver, and a stationary receiver that remains fixed at the milking station. This segmentation limits the length of flexible lines in the animal accommodation area, preventing entanglement while maintaining trolley mobility for reaching all milking stations.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for milking a group of milking animals includes a stationary animal accommodation space having a fixed floor, a plurality of milking stations, and an animal-free space which is closed for the milking animals in the accommodation space and extends adjacent to the milking stations. The system also includes an automatic milking system that includes milking cups and a robot device movable relative to the milking stations, the milking cups being connectable automatically to the teats of a milking animal present in the milking station. The system further includes a milk discharge system having at least one flexible milk line that connects the milking cups to a milk storage tank. The flexible milk line is configured so that the robot device can move from the animal-free space into each of the milking stations while the milk line remains connected to the robot device.