Hybrid Milking System with Automated and Batchwise Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current milking systems face challenges in efficiently managing and monitoring large herds of milking animals, as fully automated systems are costly and not fully adapted for large stocks, while batchwise systems lack flexibility and individual animal treatment capabilities.
Innovation Solution
An integrated milking arrangement combining automated and batchwise milking systems with identification, decision-making, and guiding devices to direct animals to the most suitable system based on individual needs, allowing for flexible, efficient, and cost-effective management of large herds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fully automated milking systems are used, then animal individual management and monitoring are improved, but cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the milking system into two distinct parts: a fully automated milking system for individual animal management and a batchwise milking system for group processing. This segmentation allows each subsystem to be optimized independently, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining individual animal management capabilities through the automated portion.
2Adaptability or versatility
If fully automated milking systems are used, then animal individual treatment is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing individual animal treatment capabilities only where necessary through the automated milking system, while using the simpler batchwise system for animals that do not require individual attention. This localized application of advanced technology reduces overall cost while maintaining treatment capability when needed.
3Ease of manufacture
If batchwise milking systems are used, then cost efficiency is improved, but flexibility and individual animal treatment capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal milking arrangement that can handle both individual animal processing and group processing through the dual-system configuration. The system can adapt its function based on animal needs, providing flexibility while maintaining cost efficiency through the batchwise component.
4Ease of manufacture
If batchwise milking systems are used, then cost efficiency is improved, but animal individual monitoring capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the monitoring function so that individual animal monitoring is performed by the automated milking system's identification arrangement, while the batchwise system handles group processing. This segmentation preserves individual monitoring capability without requiring the entire system to be automated, maintaining cost efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
An arrangement for milking a plurality of milking animals comprises an automated milking system (11) provided with a milking robot (13) for automatically milking a milking animal; a milking system (15) provided for batchwise milking of multiple milking animals; an identification arrangement (19, 21) provided for identifying each of the plurality of milking animals prior to being milked; decision means (23) connected to the identification arrangement for deciding, for each of the plurality of milking animals, whether that milking animal should be milked by the automated milking system or by the milking system for batchwise milking; and means connected (25) to the decision means for guiding each of the plurality of milking animals to the automated milking system or to the milking system for batchwise milking depending on the decision made for that milking animal.