System and computer-implemented method for controlling a rotary milking parlor arrangement and computer program
AssigneeDeLaval Holding AB
InventorTomasz Lesniak
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A control unit obtains a respective first state of a first operation parameter of each drive unit of a rotary milking parlor in a first mode of operation, and a second state of the first operation parameter during operation of the rotating platform in a second mode of operation. For each drive unit, the control unit compares the first and second states of the first operation parameter with one another and when, for one or more detected drive units, a difference between the first and second states does not exceed a threshold level, the control unit generates a first alarm with respect to the one or more detected drive units.
Claims17
A system for operating a rotary milking parlor arrangement that comprises a rotating platform with a plurality of stalls (S), each stall configured to house a respective animal during milking, the rotary milking parlor arrangement further comprising at least one drive unit configured to cause the rotating platform to move in at least a first direction (RF, RB) of rotation around a rotation axis (P), the system comprising a control unit configured to:
- obtain a respective first state of a first operation parameter of each of the at least one drive unit during operation of the rotating platform in a first mode of operation;
- obtain a respective second state of the first operation parameter of each of the at least one drive unit during operation of the rotating platform in a second mode of operation;
- and
- compare, for each of the at least one drive unit, the first and second states of the first operation parameter with one another, and when, for one or more detected drive units of the at least one drive unit, a difference between said first and second states does not exceed a threshold level, generate a first alarm (A1) with respect to the one or more detected drive units,
- wherein:
- the first mode of operation involves operating the at least one drive unit in an idle mode in which no drive motor of any of the at least one drive unit is engaged to cause the rotating platform to move in the at least first direction (RF, RB) of rotation around the rotation axis (P);
- and
- the second mode of operation involves operating the at least one drive unit in a steady-state mode in which the at least one drive unit is engaged to cause the rotating platform to move at a steady-state speed in the at least first direction (RF, RB) of rotation around the rotation axis (P).
A computer-implemented method of operating a rotary milking parlor arrangement that comprises a rotating platform with a plurality of stalls (S), each stall configured to house a respective animal during milking, the rotary milking parlor arrangement further comprising at least one drive unit configured to cause the rotating platform to move in at least a first direction (RF, RB) of rotation around a rotation axis (P), the method comprising:
- obtaining a respective first state of a first operation parameter of each of the at least one drive unit during operation of the rotating platform in a first mode of operation;
- obtaining a respective second state of the first operation parameter of each of the at least one drive unit during operation of the rotating platform in a second mode of operation;
- and
- comparing, for each of the at least one drive unit, the first and second states of the first operation parameter with one another, and when, for one or more detected drive units of the at least one drive unit, a difference between said first and second states does not exceed a threshold level, generating a first alarm (A1) with respect to the one or more detected drive units,
- wherein:
- the first mode of operation involves operating the at least one drive unit in an idle mode in which no drive motor of any of the at least one drive unit is engaged to cause the rotating platform to move in the at least first direction (RF, RB) of rotation around the rotation axis (P);
- and
- the second mode of operation involves operating the at least one drive unit in a steady-state mode in which the at least one drive unit is engaged to cause the rotating platform to move at a steady-state speed in the at least first direction (RF, RB) of rotation around the rotation axis (P).
A non-transitory computer readable medium on which is stored a computer program which, when executed by a processing unit, causes the processing unit to perform a method of operating a rotary milking parlor arrangement that comprises a rotating platform with a plurality of stalls (S), each stall configured to house a respective animal during milking, the rotary milking parlor arrangement further comprising at least one drive unit configured to cause the rotating platform to move in at least a first direction (RF, RB) of rotation around a rotation axis (P), the method comprising:
- obtaining a respective first state of a first operation parameter of each of the at least one drive unit during operation of the rotating platform in a first mode of operation;
- obtaining a respective second state of the first operation parameter of each of the at least one drive unit during operation of the rotating platform in a second mode of operation;
- and
- comparing, for each of the at least one drive unit, the first and second states of the first operation parameter with one another, and when, for one or more detected drive units of the at least one drive unit, a difference between said first and second states does not exceed a threshold level, generating a first alarm (A1) with respect to the one or more detected drive units,
- wherein:
- the first mode of operation involves operating the at least one drive unit in an idle mode in which no drive motor of any of the at least one drive unit is engaged to cause the rotating platform to move in the at least first direction (RF, RB) of rotation around the rotation axis (P);
- and
- the second mode of operation involves operating the at least one drive unit in a steady-state mode in which the at least one drive unit is engaged to cause the rotating platform to move at a steady-state speed in the at least first direction (RF, RB) of rotation around the rotation axis (P).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.