Robotic Milking Control System with Air Knife Teat Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robotic milking systems lack an efficient control system to ensure the safety and quality of milk by effectively cleaning and disinfecting cow udders before milking, while also managing the operational efficiency of the milking process.
Innovation Solution
A control system for a robotic milking apparatus that includes a teat washing device with an air knife for drying teats, a microprocessor-controlled system for managing the wash/milk procedure, and sensors for monitoring the milk receiving vessel, buffer tank, and bulk tank to ensure safe and efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a robotic milking system operates continuously without cleaning procedures, then productivity is improved, but milk safety and quality deteriorate due to contamination risks
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary cleaning and disinfection of teats before each milking operation. The washing device cleans teats with detergent solution, followed by disinfection with sanitizer, ensuring teats are clean before milking begins. This preliminary action prevents contamination and maintains milk safety while enabling continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system manages multiple robotic milkers to operate in an overlapping sequence. While one robotic milker undergoes washing and disinfection procedures, another continues milking operations. This continuous arrangement ensures that cleaning procedures are completed without interrupting overall productivity, maintaining both milk safety and continuous production.
2Reliability
If teat cleaning and disinfection procedures are implemented, then milk safety is improved, but operational complexity increases due to additional equipment and procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The washing device combines multiple functions into a single integrated unit: teat cleaning with detergent, rinsing with water, and disinfection with sanitizer. The device includes a housing that contains all these subsystems, along with a drying mechanism using filtered air. This merging reduces the number of separate equipment pieces and simplifies the overall system while maintaining comprehensive cleaning and disinfection capabilities.
3Productivity
If multiple robotic milkers are used to maintain continuous operation during cleaning, then productivity is maintained, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control system coordinates multiple robotic milkers to operate in an overlapping sequence. While one robotic milker undergoes washing and disinfection procedures, another continues milking operations. This continuous arrangement ensures that cleaning procedures are completed without interrupting overall productivity. The system monitors the status of each robotic milker and automatically transitions between them to maintain uninterrupted milk production.
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 control system improves the operational efficiency of the robotic milking process by ensuring thorough teat cleaning and disinfection, preventing the mixing of unsafe milk with safe milk, and allowing for continuous operation with one robotic milker undergoing a wash procedure while the other is milking.
Implementation Method 1
an air knife operable to blow air from a source of filtered air to dry the cow's teats after washing
Data Source
AI summary
A control system for operating a robotic milking system utilizing at least two robotic milkers maximizes the efficiency of the operation of the robotic milking system. The milk delivery lines are provided with sensors in operable communication with a microprocessor to control the operation of teat washing apparatus and to control the flow of milk from the robotic milkers while milk receiving lines are being cleaned, enabling one robotic milker to be undergoing a wash procedure while the other robotic milker is undergoing a milking procedure. The teat washing apparatus has a pair of counter rotating rolls passing over the cow's teats in a downward direction and an air knife located above the rolls to dry the teats for a subsequent milking procedure. The teat washing apparatus makes a cleaning pass, returns to a home position for cleaning, and then makes a sanitizing pass to ready the cow for milking.