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US 5,769,025 AGranted
Milking apparatus
AssigneeMaasland N.V.
InventorsAry van der Lely, Olaf van der Lely, Karel van den Berg, Rene Fransen
Life of this patent
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AssigneeMaasland N.V.
InventorsAry van der Lely, Olaf van der Lely, Karel van den Berg, Rene Fransen
Estimating the term…
A milking apparatus comprising a circulation line in a milk circuit which includes a bulk milk tank, and a pump for circulating milk around the circuit including through the tank and through the circulation line. There are one or more milking compartments for automatically milking animals, such as cows, which are connected to the circulation line by supply lines. A milk filter can be incorporated in a circulation line or in a supply line or both. In one embodiment the milk filter is automatically renewable. It comprises a band of filtration material wound on two bobbins wherein the filter band intercepts the milk line at a bias cut between two clamping plates, one of which can be pivoted whereby the filter band is advanced automatically on a bobbin. Other filtration units are disclosed which may be manually replaced, one of which is contained in the bulk milk tank. Each milking compartment can be isolated whereby the milk lines, a deaeration container, an implement for cleaning animal's teats and udders, and the interiors and exteriors of the teat cups can be cleansed and rinsed with various combinations of hot and cold water, acid and alkaline liquids, and a disinfectant fluid.
A milking apparatus including a milk circulation line and comprising a milk storage and cooling tank and a pump, said pump circulating the milk sequentially through said circulation line and said tank, said pump, said circulation line and said tank comprising a circuit for circulating milk, the apparatus further comprising a supply line and a milking machine, said milking machine connected to said supply line to supply milk via said supply line to said circulation line, a milk filter in said supply line that filters milk passing from said milking machine via said supply line to said circulation line.
A milking apparatus including a milk circulation line and comprising a milk storage and cooling tank and a pump, said pump circulating the milk sequentially through said circulation line and said tank, said pump, said circulation line and said tank comprising a circuit for circulating milk, the apparatus further comprising a supply line and a milking machine, said milking machine connected to said supply line to supply milk via said supply line to said circulation line, a milk filter in said supply line that filters milk passing from said milking machine via said supply line to said circulation line, said circulation line comprising a valve having a first position that connects said circulation line to an inlet into said tank, and a second position for connecting said circulation line to a further line portion leading to a spray head in said tank.
A milking apparatus comprising a bulk milk tank and a milking inlet line leading into said bulk milk tank which includes a valve, said valve having a first position that connections to a first line portion having an end which extends into the tank and defines an obstruction-free passage into said tank from said valve, said valve having a second position that connections to a second line portion which define a passage to a spray head located in said tank for cleaning and disinfecting said tank.
A milking apparatus including a milk circulation line and comprising a milk storage and cooling tank and a pump, said pump circulating the milk sequentially through said circulation line and said tank, said pump, said circulation line and said tank comprising a circuit for circulating milk, the apparatus further comprising a supply line and a milking machine, said milking machine connected to said supply line to supply milk via said supply line to said circulation line, a milk filter in said supply line that filters milk passing from said milking machine via said supply line to said circulation line, said circulation line containing a valve having two positions, one of said positions connecting said circulation line to a spray head in said tank, and the other position of said valve connecting said circulation line to a conduit for supplying milk into said tank.
A milking apparatus comprising a milk circulation line, a milk tank, a pump, said pump circulating milk in sequence through said tank and said circulation line, a milk supply line connected to said circulation line, a milking machine connected to said supply line, said circulation line including a line portion in said tank, said line portion in said tank including a filter, said filter being disposed within said tank.
A milking apparatus comprising a milk circulation line, a milk tank, a pump, said pump circulating milk in sequence through said tank and said circulation line, a milk supply line connected to said circulation line, said circulation including a line portion in said tank, said line portion in said tank including a filter, said tank comprising a lid, said filter being connected to said lid.
A milking apparatus which comprises a circulation line including a tank which constitutes part of a recirculation circuit, said tank comprising an inlet and an outlet for receiving and discharging milk flowing through said circulation line in said recirculation circuit, said inlet comprising a conduit which is surrounded by said outlet where said inlet enters said tank.
In an automatic milking system, a fluid circuit for circulating milk and other fluids that comprises, connected in sequence with respect to normal fluid flow, a bulk milk tank, a discharge outlet, a pump, a check valve, a line portion and an inlet to said bulk milk tank, said line portion being operatively connected to a source of compressed air for direct injection of said compressed air into said line portion.
In an automatic milking system, a circuit for circulating milk and other fluids including a cleaning solution that comprises in sequence in the direction of flow a bulk milk tank, a discharge outlet, a pump, a check valve, a line portion and an inlet to said bulk milk tank, a discharge cock being provided between said discharge outlet and said pump, said discharge cock being connected to said circuit for discharging said milk from said bulk milk tank.
In an automatic milking system, a fluid circuit for circulating milk and other fluids that comprises, connected in sequence, a bulk milk tank, a discharge outlet, a pump, a check valve, a line portion and an inlet to said bulk milk tank, said line portion being connected to a source of compressed air, further comprising a filter in said line portion, said line portion including sensor means for informing a process computer that replacement of said filter is required.
In an automatic milking system, a fluid circuit for circulating milk and other fluids that comprises, connected in sequence, a bulk milk tank, a discharge outlet, a pump, a check valve, a line portion and an inlet to said bulk milk tank, said line portion being connected to a source of compressed air, further comprising liquid sensor means in said bulk milk tank which relays a signal to a process computer whether or not said bulk milk tank contains a liquid.
An automatic milking apparatus comprising a milking compartment for the animal being milked, a computer controlled robot for emplacing and removing teat chips from an animal being milked, a bulk milk tank which is connected to said teat cups via a passageway, a source of cleaning fluid mounted on said milking compartment and means for conveying cleaning fluid from said source via said passageway to said bulk milk tank.
In a system for cleaning milking apparatus comprising teat cups and a milk deaeration unit which are interconnected by passageways, a source of cleaning fluid, a first line for carrying cleaning fluid from said source of cleaning fluid to said teat cups and via the interior of said teat cups to said deaeration unit and a second line for carrying cleaning fluid from said cleaning fluid source to said deaeration unit without passing through said teat cups or said passageways.
An automatic milking apparatus for milking animals such as cows and for periodically cleaning and disinfecting the system after milk has been discharged therefrom, the apparatus comprising a milking circuit that includes a circulation line and a bulk milk tank, a milking compartment, robot means for engaging and disengaging teat cups from the teats of animals in said compartment, a supply line connecting said teat cups to said circulation line, a deaeration unit in said supply line, a reservoir for rinsing fluid, a feedback line from said deaeration unit to said reservoir, a source of warm water and a first line interconnecting said warm water source and said reservoir, a cold water source and a second line therefrom to said reservoir, an acid source and a third line therefrom to said reservoir, and an alkaline cleaning agent source and a fourth line therefrom to said reservoir, said first line and said second line each containing respective process computer controlled valves, said third line and said fourth line each containing respective process computer controlled pumps.
A milking apparatus including a milk circulation line and comprising a milk storage and cooling tank and a pump, said pump circulating the milk sequentially through said circulation line and said tank, said pump, said circulation line and said tank comprising a circuit for circulating milk, the apparatus firther comprising a supply line and a milking machine, said milking machine connected to said supply line to supply milk via said supply line to said circulation line, a milk filter in said circulation line that filters milk passing through said circulation line.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.