Batch Milking Robot Layout With Movable Barrier Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing milking installations face inefficiencies due to cow behavior and herd dynamics, which can reduce the number of milkings per day and increase stress levels, particularly in fully automated systems.
Innovation Solution
A milking installation with a movable barrier that guides animals to specific milking robots on a voluntary basis, allowing batchwise milking by preventing access to certain robots and encouraging animals to use others, with specialized routines for certain milk samples or storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If batchwise milking of groups of animals is performed manually, then flexibility in handling different group sizes is maintained, but labor costs and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The milking system is divided into multiple parallel milking units (first milking unit, second milking unit, etc.), each capable of independently milking one or more animals. This segmentation allows the system to handle different group sizes efficiently while maintaining high throughput, as multiple units can operate simultaneously on different animals or groups.
Solution Approach 2:
The milking installation is designed with universal components that can serve multiple functions: the same milking unit can milk different animals, the system can accommodate varying group sizes, and the automated control system can manage different milking scenarios (single animals, small groups, large groups) using the same infrastructure.
2Productivity
If automated milking systems are implemented for high throughput, then milking speed increases, but the ability to adapt to different group configurations decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic allocation of animals to milking units based on group size and configuration. Animals can be dynamically assigned to different units or combined into groups that optimize throughput. The control system dynamically adjusts the milking process to accommodate varying group configurations while maintaining high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system can change operational parameters such as the number of animals per unit, the grouping configuration, and the milking sequence to adapt to different scenarios. By varying these parameters, the system maintains high throughput whether milking single animals, small groups, or large herds.
3Productivity
If multiple animals are milked in parallel using multiple teat cups, then overall milking efficiency increases, but ensuring all teat cups are properly attached becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors that provide feedback on teat cup attachment status for each milking unit. This feedback mechanism allows the control system to detect improper attachments and alert operators or automatically adjust the process, ensuring high reliability even when multiple teat cups are used in parallel across multiple units.
Solution Approach 2:
The milking units are designed with self-checking capabilities where the system automatically verifies proper teat cup attachment through integrated sensors. This self-service approach reduces the burden on operators to manually check each attachment while maintaining high reliability across multiple parallel units.
Data Source
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Figure 5
AI summary
A milking installation performs batchwise milking of one group of animals per batch by using a set of milking robots (RR1) that adjoin an enclosure (120) for the group of animals. When located in the enclosure (120), individual animals in the group of animals have access to each milking robot (Rn,..., R52) in the set of milking robots (RR1) on a voluntary basis. A movable barrier (110) is movable in a first direction over the enclosure (120) so as to compel the individual animals in the group of animals to move in the first direction relative to the set of milking robots (RR1). Specifically, the milking robots (R11,..., R52) are arranged along at least one straight line (L1) and the movable barrier (110) may take different positions at the enclosure (120) so as to prevent the individual animals in the group of animals from reaching at least one of the milking robots (R11,..., R52) in at least one of the different positions of the movable barrier (110).