Milking Arrangement Outlet Member State Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large automatic milking arrangements with complex valve and drainage outlet systems are time-consuming and costly to maintain, and reducing the number of valves increases manual work during state changes.
Innovation Solution
A milking arrangement with a controller that automates state changes and sensor arrangements to ensure safe connections between milk tanks and cleaning devices, allowing manual movement of outlet members and automatic initiation of milking or cleaning processes, reducing the need for extensive valve systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large number of valves and drainage outlets are used to prevent mixing of milk and cleaning liquids, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases and maintenance becomes time-consuming and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex valve and drainage outlet system from the milking arrangement. Instead of using multiple valves arranged according to the block-bleed-block principle, the invention uses a single outlet member that can be manually moved between different connection positions, thereby removing the disturbing complexity while maintaining the function of preventing mixing between milk and cleaning liquids.
Solution Approach 2:
The outlet member serves multiple functions: it connects to the milk tank during milking operations, connects to the cleaning device during cleaning operations, and acts as a manual switching mechanism. This single component replaces the function of multiple valves and drainage outlets, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability.
2Device complexity
If the number of valves is reduced to simplify the system, then device complexity is reduced, but manual work increases during switching from cleaning to milking and between milk tanks
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides self-service through automatic state detection and notification. The sensor arrangement automatically detects when the outlet member is connected to different components, and the controller automatically notifies the operator via the user interface when the arrangement is ready for state change. This reduces the manual effort required compared to systems without automatic detection and notification capabilities.
3Device complexity
If manual movement of the outlet member is required for state changes, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity decreases due to increased manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs preliminary actions by automatically detecting the current state via the sensor arrangement and notifying the operator in advance when the milking arrangement is ready for state change. This preliminary notification allows the operator to perform the manual outlet member movement at the optimal time, reducing idle time and improving overall productivity despite the manual intervention required.
Data Source
AI summary
A milking arrangement includes robot milking stations connected to a milk conduit with an outlet end. A connection conduit connected to the outlet end includes an outlet member. A cleaning device for cleaning the milk conduit includes a cleaning conduit having a first connection member. A milk tank includes a second connection member. The outlet member is movable between and connectable to the first connection member in a primary state, and to the second connection member in a secondary state. A controller communicates with the milking stations, the cleaning device and a user interface. When determined to change the state, measures for preparing the arrangement for the change are automatically performed. Thereafter, the user interface indicates to an operator that the arrangement is ready for the change.