Automatic milking and milk cooling apparatus

An apparatus for bulk storage of milk obtained from milking an animal comprising a milking reservoir, a level sensor, a computer system and a cooling system,

• said level sensor providing measuring means for measuring a level of said milk in said reservoir,
• said level sensor being in operationally connected to said computer system whereby said level sensor supplies said computer system with a signal,
• said signal being related to said level of said milk,
• said cooling system providing means of removing heat from said milk in said reservoir,
• said computer system activating said cooling system when said computer system detects a predetermined amount of milk has entered said reservoir based on said signal received from said level sensor.

An apparatus for automatically milking an animal comprising:

• a milking robot, a milk reservoir, a recirculating line, a filter system, and a computer system,
• said milking robot comprising a teat cup, a collecting glass, and a first pump,
• said teat cup comprising tubing, said tubing connecting said teat cup and said collecting glass,
• said tubing comprising a first valve means, said first valve means comprising means of selectively allowing or blocking flow through said tubing,
• said collecting glass comprising a vacuum circuit, said vacuum circuit comprising means of obtaining and maintaining a vacuum in said collecting glass,
• said first pump comprising a suction part, a discharge part, a first pipe, and a second pipe,
• said first pipe attached to said suction part and connecting said first pump to said collecting glass,
• said second pipe attached to said discharge part,
• said milk reservoir comprising a tank, a cooling system and a drain cock,
• said tank comprising means of confining a liquid,
• said cooling system comprising means of removing heat energy from the contents of said tank,
• said drain cock comprising a second valve means and means of draining said liquid from said tank,
• said second valve means comprising means of selectively allowing or blocking fluid flow through said drain cock,
• said recirculating line comprising a second pump, a third pipe and a fourth pipe,
• said second pump comprising a suction section and a discharge section,
• said third pipe connecting said suction section and said tank whereby said second pump removes fluid from said tank,
• said fourth pipe connecting said discharge section and said tank whereby said second pump discharges fluid into said tank,
• said fourth pipe connected to said second pipe,
• said filter system comprising a filter,
• said filter disposed on said apparatus whereby substantially all milk milked from said animal via said teat cup passes through said filter,
• said computer system comprising a computer and a first sensor means, a first signal means, a milk measuring device, a first valve control means, a second valve control means, and a cooling system control means,
• said first sensor means comprising means of sensing the pressure in said teat cup and signalling data to said computer based upon said pressure,
• said first signal means comprising means of signalling said computer that said milk reservoir is prepared for draining,
• said milk measuring device comprising means of measuring an amount of said milk provided from said animal via said teat cup which enters said tank and signalling data to said computer based upon said amount,
• said first valve control means comprising means of controlling said first valve means whereby said first valve means selectively allows the flow of the fluid through said tubing or blocks said flow of fluid through said tubing based upon said data received by said computer from said first sensor means,
• said second valve control means comprising control means controlling said second valve means whereby said second valve means selectively allows said fluid flow through said discharge cock or blocks said flow through said discharge cock based upon said signal received by said computer from said first signalling means,
• said cooling system control means comprising temperature regulation means that thermally controls said cooling system whereby selectively more or less of said heat energy is removed from said contents of said milk reservoir based upon said data received from said milk measuring device.