Teat Cleaning Detection Arrangement for Automated Milking

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Automated teat cleaning devices in dairy farming sometimes fail to properly clean teats, leading to potential infections and milk quality deterioration, as they may not ensure consistent and thorough cleaning of all teats during the process.

Innovation Solution

A detection arrangement comprising a measuring device, such as a vision system or wave source and sensor, is used to automatically measure teat-related parameters during or before the removal of the teat cleaning cup, comparing these measurements to reference values to determine if the teat was properly contained and cleaned, allowing for repeat cleaning if necessary.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If automated teat cleaning devices are used to clean teats, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but cleaning quality and reliability deteriorate due to inconsistent cleaning results

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidcleaning quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism by using a measuring device to detect whether the teat has been properly contained in the cleaning cup during the cleaning process. The processing device compares measured parameters with reference values and triggers a repeat cleaning action when proper containment is not detected, ensuring reliable cleaning results while maintaining automated efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary detection during the cleaning process to verify proper teat containment before completing the cleaning cycle. This preliminary action allows the system to identify and correct improper cleaning conditions early, preventing failed cleaning attempts and ensuring consistent cleaning quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If teat cleaning is not properly monitored, then device complexity is reduced, but hygiene reliability and milk quality deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidhygiene reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical monitoring systems with a measuring device that detects teat-related parameters and a processing device that compares measurements with reference values. This substitution provides reliable hygiene monitoring through automated parameter comparison and decision-making, maintaining hygiene reliability while avoiding overly complex mechanical structures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-monitoring and self-correction by automatically detecting cleaning quality parameters and triggering repeat cleaning actions when necessary. This self-service capability ensures hygiene reliability without requiring external monitoring or manual intervention, maintaining system simplicity while ensuring reliable cleaning outcomes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

Ensures proper teat cleaning, enhances hygiene, maintains milk quality, and provides a robust, accurate, and reliable method for monitoring and improving the teat cleaning process in automated milking systems.

Implementation Method 1

a vision system using laser triangulation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaser triangulation: LIDAR

Implementation Method 2

a time of flight camera

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTime of flight: Time of Flight

Implementation Method 3

a source of waves provided for transmitting waves, advantageously microwaves, towards an area within or immediately above the teat cleaning cup, and a sensor provided for detecting waves from the source of waves

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic wave absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentEP2381762B1Detection arrangement and method

Publication Date: 2015.04.29 DELAVAL HLDG AB

Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6

AI summary

A detecting arrangement is provided for a teat cleaning device (16) including a teat cleaning cup (17), in which teats (15a) of milking animals (15) are contained during cleaning thereof. The detecting arrangement comprises a measuring device (19; 41, 42) provided for automatically measuring a teat related parameter in or adjacent to the teat cleaning cup at completion of a teat cleaning process, and a processing device (18) operatively connected to the measuring device and provided for automatically comparing the measured teat related parameter with a reference value and for automatically determining whether the teat of the milking animal has been contained in the teat cleaning cup unfolded during the teat cleaning process based on the comparison.