Sampling apparatus for taking representative milk sample and method for taking representative milk samples

A sampling apparatus for taking a representative milk sample in a predetermined quantity range from a conveying line in which milk is conveyed at conveying intervals of unknown length, comprising:

• a pump,
• a controller of the pump, and
• a sample container connection element connected to the pump,
• wherein the controller is configured to control a pulsed operation of the pump in a first mode of operation in a conveying interval based on the predetermined quantity range and at least one of the following:
• a measured variable indicating a flow rate of the milk in g/min conveyed in the conveying line;
• and a predetermined variable indicating a total quantity of milk to be conveyed through the conveying line in a conveying interval,
• wherein the pump conveys a discrete sample subset of milk along a first conveying direction of the pump during pulsed operation in each sample pulse interval,
• wherein the predetermined quantity range is greater than or equal to a total quantity corresponding to a total number of discrete sample subsets of milk in the conveying interval, and
• wherein the controller is further configured to reduce a conveying speed of the pump and increase a frequency of sample pulse intervals as the flow rate of the milk in g/min conveyed in the conveying line decreases.