US 7,607,404 B2Granted

Vacuum system communication

AssigneeDeLaval Holding AB

InventorsMats Stellnert, Richard T. Meyer

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Abstract

An automatic milking system having a vacuum pump arrangement, the automatic milking system includes a milking system controller arranged to control milking system parameters and a vacuum pump arrangement having a vacuum system controller for controlling vacuum system parameters. Communication means is coupled to the vacuum system controller and to the milking system controller for establishing communication between the vacuum system controllers and the milking system controller. The milking system controller has signal transmitting means for transmitting a message to the vacuum system controller. The vacuum system controller has signal receiving means for receiving the message from the milking system controller, and the vacuum system controller is arranged to change a least one of the vacuum system parameters depending on the received message.

Claims22

Dependent claims

An automatic milking system comprising a vacuum pump arrangement, wherein said automatic milking system comprises a milking system controller arranged to control milking system parameters and said vacuum pump arrangement comprises a vacuum system controller for controlling vacuum system parameters, comprising:

communication means coupled to said vacuum system controller and to said milking system controller for establishing communication between said vacuum system controller and said milking system controller,
said milking system controller comprises signal transmitting means for transmitting a message to said vacuum system controller,
said vacuum system controller comprises signal receiving means for receiving said message from said milking system controller, and
said vacuum system controller is arranged to change at least one of said vacuum system parameters depending on said received message, wherein
said milking system controller is arranged to send a message to said vacuum system controller in dependence of a first milking system parameter,
said message is an order to reduce the vacuum Level to a stand-by vacuum level, which is substantially lower than a milking vacuum level, and
said first milking system parameter is a parameter indicating that no animal is present in the automatic milking system.

4 more elements

communication means coupled to said vacuum system controller and to said milking system controller for establishing communication between said vacuum system controller and said milking system controller,
said milking system controller comprises signal transmitting means for transmitting a message to said vacuum system controller,
said vacuum system controller comprises signal receiving means for receiving said message from said milking system controller, and
said vacuum system controller is arranged to change at least one of said vacuum system parameters depending on said received message, wherein
said milking system controller is arranged to send a message to said vacuum system controller in dependence of a first milking system parameter,
said message is an order to increase the vacuum level from a stand-by vacuum level, which is substantially lower than the milking vacuum level, and
said first milking system parameter is a parameter indicating that an animal is present in the automatic milking system.

4 more elements

communication means coupled to said vacuum system controller and to said milking system controller for establishing communication between said vacuum system controller and said milking system controller,
said milking system controller comprises signal transmitting means for transmitting a message to said vacuum system controller,
said vacuum system controller comprises signal receiving means for receiving said message from said milking system controller, and
said vacuum system controller is arranged to change at least one of said vacuum system parameters depending on said received message, wherein
said automatic milking system comprises several milking points, each of which comprises a cluster of teat cups and a milking point controller,
each of said clusters of teat cups is arranged to be applied to teats of a respective animal,
each of said milking point controllers being arranged to initiate take-off of said teat cups from said teats, and
each of said milking point controllers being connected to said milking system controller.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/495,172Filed 24 Apr 2002 · us provisional application
Priority: 28 Nov 2001
Published: US 2005/0274326 A115 Dec 2005
Granted: 27 Oct 2009
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

A01J 5/047
With pneumatic manipulation of teats: vacuum generating means, e.g. by connecting to the air-inlet of a tractor engine
A01J 5/007
Milking machines or devices: monitoring milking processes; Control or regulation of milking machines
A01J 5/048
Vacuum generating means, e.g. by connecting to the air-inlet of a tractor engine: vacuum regulators
A01J
Manufacture of dairy products

Family

Application60/333,926Us provisional application · filed 28 Nov 2001
US 2005/0274326 A1Pre-grant publication · published 15 Dec 2005
US 7,607,404 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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