Teat Detection Lens Cleaning During Milking Cup Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing milking devices face challenges in maintaining the reliability of teat detection and milking cup attachment due to the adhesion of sticky teat-treating liquid droplets on the optically permeable components, which affects the accuracy of teat position determination and spraying processes.
Innovation Solution
A milking device that applies cleaning liquid to the optically permeable component before, during, and after teat-treating liquid spraying to prevent droplet adhesion, using a combination of cleaning liquid application and optional blow-drying to maintain component cleanliness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a compressed air curtain is used to protect the optically permeable component from teat-treating liquid droplets, then the component is protected from soiling, but the droplets dry more quickly and adhesion is enhanced, and the air current may carry droplets to other parts of the milking device
Solution Approach 1:
A hydrophobic coating is applied to the optically permeable component as an intermediary layer. This coating repels teat-treating liquid droplets, preventing them from adhering to the component surface. The hydrophobic layer acts as a mediator between the droplets and the optical component, allowing droplets to bead up and roll off without soiling the lens or cover plate, thereby maintaining detection reliability without requiring compressed air that could cause drying and adhesion issues
2Ease of operation
If the spraying device sprays teat-treating liquid on the teats, then the teats are treated correctly, but droplets adhere to the optically permeable component and affect position determination accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrophobic coating serves as a protective intermediary layer on the optically permeable component. When teat-treating liquid is sprayed, the coating causes droplets to bead up and roll off rather than adhere to the optical surface. This maintains measurement precision by keeping the optical path clear while allowing the spraying operation to proceed normally
3Reliability
If cleaning liquid is applied to the optically permeable component during spraying, then droplet adhesion is prevented, but the component must be cleaned continuously during operation
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of implementing a continuous cleaning liquid application system, the patent applies a durable hydrophobic coating that provides long-lasting protection. This coating acts as a permanent, low-maintenance solution that prevents droplet adhesion without requiring continuous intervention, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable detection
Solution Approach 2:
The hydrophobic coating provides self-service protection by inherently repelling droplets through its surface properties. The coating automatically causes droplets to bead up and roll off without requiring external cleaning actions, systems, or interventions, thereby simplifying the overall device design while maintaining detection reliability
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
Enhances the reliability of teat detection and milking cup attachment by keeping the optically permeable components clean, ensuring accurate teat position determination and effective teat-treating liquid application.
Implementation Method 1
the cleaning liquid which is thus applied to the component during spraying of the teat-treating liquid ensures that the droplets of this teat-treating liquid cannot adhere to the component
Implementation Method 2
adhering droplets are a disadvantage with regard to the quality of the position determination
Data Source
AI summary
A milking device for milking of a dairy animal with teats includes a control unit, a milking device including milking cups, a robot arm to attach the milking cups to the teats of the dairy animal, a teat-detecting device to determine positions of the teats, including an outer optically permeable component, such as a lens or cover plate, and a cleaning device to clean the optically permeable component. The cleaning device is provided with a cleaning liquid supply and an application device to apply the cleaning liquid to the optically permeable component. The milking device includes a spraying device for spraying a teat-treating liquid on the teats. The application device is configured to apply cleaning liquid to the optically permeable component at least while the spraying device sprays the teat-treating liquid. As a result thereof, adhesion of the often sticky teat-treating liquid to the optically permeable component is efficiently counteracted.