Spectroscopic Cleaning Fluid Analysis in Milking Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current milking machine cleaning processes are inefficient, leading to excessive consumption of cleaning agents, water, and energy, and often result in inaccurate and laborious inspections to ensure cleaning effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus for analyzing cleaning fluids in milking machines, comprising a line portion, a light source unit, a detection unit for spectrally resolved light capture, and an evaluation unit to analyze constituents in the cleaning fluid, allowing for real-time monitoring and adjustment of cleaning processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cleaning agents are used in excessive doses and large amounts to ensure sufficient cleaning under all circumstances, then cleaning reliability is improved, but consumption of cleaning agents, water, and energy increases unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism by using a sensor (such as a refractometer or conductivity sensor) to continuously monitor the cleaning fluid's properties during the cleaning process. The sensor detects parameters like refractive index or electrical conductivity, which change as the cleaning agent dissolves deposits. This real-time feedback allows the control system to adjust the cleaning agent dosage dynamically, ensuring sufficient cleaning while minimizing waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning process transitions from a static, pre-determined dosage approach to a dynamic, adaptive process. The cleaning agent dosage is continuously adjusted based on real-time sensor readings and actual cleaning needs. This dynamic approach allows the system to optimize the balance between cleaning effectiveness and resource consumption throughout the cleaning cycle.
2Reliability
If cleaning agents are used in excessive doses to ensure sufficient cleaning, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but cleaning time increases unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor provides real-time feedback on the cleaning fluid's effectiveness by monitoring parameters such as refractive index or conductivity. When the sensor detects that the cleaning fluid has reached optimal concentration or that deposits are being effectively removed, the control system can terminate the cleaning process early, avoiding unnecessary extension of cleaning time while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning process maintains optimal effectiveness throughout by continuously adjusting the cleaning agent dosage based on sensor feedback. This ensures that the cleaning action remains useful and efficient at all times, preventing both under-cleaning and unnecessary over-cleaning that would extend the process duration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual specification of cleaning agent composition is performed based on operator experience, then adaptability to changed circumstances is limited, but device complexity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor-based feedback system automatically detects changes in cleaning fluid properties and provides real-time information to the control system. This enables the system to adapt to changed circumstances (such as variations in deposit composition, water quality, or cleaning agent batch differences) without requiring complex manual adjustment mechanisms or expert operator intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning system performs self-adjustment through the sensor and control system, which automatically monitor and optimize cleaning fluid composition without human intervention. This self-service capability provides adaptability to changing conditions while keeping the control system relatively simple, as the sensor directly guides the adjustments without requiring complex decision-making algorithms.
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
The apparatus reduces raw material and energy consumption, shortens cleaning times, and improves cleaning effectiveness by enabling real-time analysis and adjustment of cleaning fluid composition, thereby ensuring optimal cleaning conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a light source unit, which emits light into the line portion, and a detection unit for the spectrally resolved capture of light emerging from the line portion
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) for analysing a cleaning fluid, comprising: •a line portion (2) for the cleaning fluid, •a light-source unit (4), which emits light into the line portion (2), •a detection unit (5) for spectrally resolved capturing of light exiting the line portion (2), and •an analysis unit (6) which is designed to analyse the cleaning fluid with regard to the constituents on the basis of signals from the detection unit (5).