Milking Robot Arm Storage Screening Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Milking robots are vulnerable to environmental conditions such as wind, dirt, and freezing temperatures, which can damage the robot arm and tubing, affecting their performance and requiring frequent replacements.
Innovation Solution
A milking robot with a controllable screening element that moves between open and closed positions to shield the robot arm storage area from the milking area, minimizing exposure to environmental conditions during non-milking operations and using a control system to automate this process based on environmental sensors and thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the robot arm is kept inside the milking area during non-milking operations, then quick access for milking is maintained, but the robot arm and tubing are exposed to environmental conditions such as wind, dirt, and freezing temperatures that can damage the equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The space is divided into two distinct zones: a milking area where animals are milked and an arm storage area where the robot arm is protected when not in use. The screening element creates a physical boundary between these zones, allowing the system to segment the robot arm's position into operational (exposed) and non-operational (protected) states.
Solution Approach 2:
A controllable screening element acts as an intermediary barrier between the milking area and the arm storage area. This screening element can be moved between open and closed positions to control the exposure of the robot arm to environmental conditions, serving as a mediator that protects the equipment while allowing quick access when needed.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the screening element is kept in the closed position to protect the robot arm, then protection from environmental conditions is maximized, but the time required to open the screen and begin milking operations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The screening element is positioned and ready in advance within the housing structure, so that when milking operations need to begin, it can be quickly opened rather than having to be brought into position from elsewhere. The system prepares the screening element in a ready state that minimizes the time required to transition from protected to operational mode.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the robot arm is frequently moved in and out of the milking area, then adaptability to milking operations is maintained, but wear on the screening element and mechanical components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The screening element operates in periodic cycles, remaining closed during non-milking periods and opening only when milking operations are required. This periodic operation pattern reduces the total number of times the screening element must be moved and positioned, thereby extending its operational lifespan while maintaining the system's ability to respond to milking demands.
Data Source
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AI summary
A milking robot (1) with a milking area (A) for receiving an animal (8) to be milked, teat cups (3) and a robot arm (2) for attachment of the teat cups (3) to the teats of the animal (8) in said milking area (A), the robot arm (2) being movable between an active position for the attachment of the teat cups (3) to the teats of the animal (8) wherein the robot arm (2) is, at least partly, inside the milking area (A), and an inactive position where the robot arm (2) is outside the milking area (A) in an arm storage area (B), wherein the milking robot (1) is further provided with a controllable screening element (5) that is automatically movable between a first open position and a second closed position in which the element screens off the arm storage area (B) from the milking area (A) more than in the open position.