Milk sweep method and apparatus for automated milking systems

Apparatus for controlling the milking vacuum applied to a teat cup cluster and the milk hose extending therefrom comprising:

• (a) a milk flow valve connected to the milk hose and having a first position in which milking vacuum is applied to the milk hose and teat cup cluster and a second position in which the milking vacuum is cut off;
• (b) drive means responsive to control signals for switching the milk flow valve between its first and second positions;
• and
• (c) milk sweep control means responsive to signals indicating the beginning of milking and the end of milking to operate the drive means to switch the milk flow valve, the milk sweep control means responsive to the signal indicating the beginning of milking to control the drive means to switch the milk flow valve from its second to its first position to supply milking vacuum to the teat cup cluster, the milk sweep control means responsive to the signal indicating the end of milking to control the drive means to switch the milk flow valve from its first position to its second position for a selected period of time to cut off the milking vacuum to the teat cup cluster to thereby allow the cluster to be removed from the cow, for controlling the drive means to switch the milk flow valve a selected period of time thereafter from its second to first position such that milking vacuum is again supplied to the teat cup cluster when it is removed from the cow to thereby draw out rest milk in the cup cluster and the milk hose, and after a selected period of time to control the drive means to switch the milk flow valve from its first position to its second position to cut off the milking vacuum, whereby the apparatus is ready for initiation of a new milking cycle.

Apparatus for controlling the milking vacuum applied to the teat cup clusters and milk hoses at several milking stalls in a milking parlor simultaneously, comprising:

• (a) milk flow control apparatus at each milking stall comprising:
• (1) a milk flow valve connected to the milk hose and having a first position in which milking vacuum is applied to the milk hose and teat cup cluster and a second position in which the milking vacuum is cut off,
• (2) drive means responsive to control signals for switching the milk flow valve between its first and second positions,
• (3) local control means, responsive to signals indicating the beginning and end of milking and to a control signal, for controlling the drive means to switch the milk flow valve to its first position when the beginning of milking signal is received by it, or when the end of milking signal and the control signal are simultaneously received by it, and for controlling the drive means to switch the milk flow valve to its second position when the end of milking signal only is received;
• (b) parlor sensing means for providing a milk sweep initiate signal in response to a condition sensed in the milking parlor;
• (c) group milk sweep control means, receiving the milk sweep initiate signal from the parlor sensing means, for providing the control signal to the local control means at each milking stall upon receipt of the milk sweep initiate signal to thereby cause the milk flow valve at each stall to be switched to its first position to provide vacuum draw to the milk hose and teat cup cluster, and for terminating the control signal to the local control means at each stall a preselected period of time thereafter, whereby the milk flow valves are switched to their second positions to cut off the milking vacuum.

A method of conserving the milk produced by a cow during a milking cycle which includes flushing the milk hose and teat cup cluster, comprising the steps of:

• (a) cutting off the milking vacuum to the milk hose and teat cup cluster when the flow of milk from the cow has ceased and then removing the cluster from the cow and to a location where contaminating material cannot enter the cup inflations;
• (b) waiting for a selected period of time after the milking vacuum has been cut off and the teat cup cluster has been removed from the cow;
• (c) thereafter applying the milking vacuum to the milk hose and teat cup cluster for a selected period of time while the teat cup cluster is removed from the cow such that air can be drawn in through the open inflations to the teat cups to draw the remaining rest milk from the milk hose and teat cup cluster;
• (d) thereafter shutting off the vacuum to the milk hose and teat cup cluster;
• and
• (e) supplying backflush solution to the milk hose and teat cup cluster such that the backflush solution flows through the hose and cluster and out the teat cup inflations.