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US 12,721,305 B2Granted
Milking installation and method for milking
AssigneeDeLaval Holding AB
InventorsAndrés Lundh, Johan Ter Weele
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The disclosure concerns a milking installation configured to milk a group of animals, the milking installation including an entrance area, a number of milking positions configured to milk one animal at a time, a selection gate, at least one milking stall, and an exit path. The entrance area is configured to receive therein the group of animals. An entry of each milking position of the number of milking positions is arranged with direct access from the entrance area. The selection gate is accessible from an exit of each milking position. The selection gate is configured to direct one or more individual animals from the group of animals either to the at least one milking stall or to the exit path.
Claims15
A milking installation (2) configured to milk a group (3) of animals (4), the milking installation (2) comprising:
- an entrance area (6);
- a number of milking positions (8) configured to milk one of the animals (4) at a time;
- an animal identification device (30) arranged at each of the milking positions, each of the animal identification devices being configured to generate an animal ID associated with a particular individual of the group of animals present at the animal identification device;
- a selection gate (10);
- another said animal identification device (32) arranged at the selection gate (10);
- at least one milking stall (12);
- a control arrangement (28);
- and
- an exit path (14),
- wherein the entrance area (6) is configured to receive therein the group (3) of animals (4),
- wherein an entry of each said milking position (8) of the number of milking positions (8) is arranged with direct access from the entrance area (6),
- wherein the selection gate (10) is accessible from an exit of each of the milking positions (8),
- wherein the selection gate (10) is configured to direct one or more individual animals (4) from the group (3) of animals (4) either to the at least one milking stall (12) or to the exit path (14),
- wherein the control arrangement (28) is configured, based on the animal ID, to determine whether to retain within a first milking position (8) of the number of milking positions (8) an animal individual (4) having entered the first milking position (8) so that the animal individual will be milked, or to provide free passage through the first milking position (8) for the animal individual (4) to proceed to the selection gate (10) without being milked, and
- wherein the control arrangement (28) is further configured, based on said individual animal ID, to control the selection gate (10) to direct one or more of the animal individuals (4) from the group (3) of animals (4) either to the at least one milking stall (12) or to the exit path (14).
12 more elements
A method (100) for milking of a group (3) of animals (4) in a milking installation (2), the method (100) comprising:
- receiving (102) the group (3) of animals (4) in an entrance area (6),
- providing (104) access to a number of milking positions (8) directly from the entrance area (6),
- milking (106) a first animal individual (4) of the group (3) of animals (4) in one said milking position (8) of the number of milking positions (8),
- directing (108) the first animal individual (4) via a selection gate (10) to an exit path (14) from the milking installation (2),
- passing (110) a second animal individual (4) un-milked through one said milking position (8) of the number of milking positions (8),
- directing (112) the second animal individual (4) via the selection gate (10) to at least one milking stall (12), and
- milking (114) the second animal individual (4) in the at least one milking stall (12).
4 more elements
A milking installation (2) configured to selectively milk animals within a group (3) of said animals (4), the milking installation (2) comprising:
- an entrance area (6);
- a plurality of milking positions (8), each configured to milk one of the animals at a time, each of the milking positions comprising:
- an animal identification device;
- a milking position entry with direct access to the entrance area;
- a first set of milking equipment;
- a milking position exit;
- a common milk line configured to carry milk from the first set of milking equipment of each of the milking positions;
- and
- an exit passage open to the milking position exit of each of the milking positions;
- a selection gate comprising an animal identification device, the selection gate being positioned with respect to the exit passage such that each of the animals in the exit passage must pass through the selection gate to leave the exit area, the selection gate being constructed to selectively allow passage of a given one of the animals present at the selection gate through either a first selection gate exit or a second selection gate exit;
- an exit path connected directly to the first selection gate exit, by which a given one of the animals can exit the milking installation;
- a milking stall connected to the second selection gate exit, the milking stall comprising:
- a second set of milking equipment;
- a milk conduit configured to carry milk from the second set of milking equipment;
- and
- a milking stall exit open to the exit passage;
- and
- a control arrangement connected to each of the animal identification devices, each of the milking positions, and the selection gate, the control arrangement being configured to control movement and milking of the animals within the milking installation by:
- receiving animal identity data from each of the animal identification devices in the milking positions and the selection gate,
- based on the animal identity data received from a given said milking position, determine whether the animal at the given milking position is to be retained in the given milking position for milking or passed through without milking, and
- controlling whether the selection gate directs a given said animal present at the selection gate to the milking stall or the exit path;
- wherein the milking installation is configured so that the control arrangement determines whether the milk from a given said animal passes to the common milk line or the milk conduit.
19 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.