Milk sampling and testing
OwnerDavid Eric Akermaninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of collecting a sample of milk while milking a succession of animals comprises diverting a portion of milk from an animal into a flowpath (74, 77) leading to an extraction point (80). The flowpath (74, 77) is dimensioned such that milk flows along the flowpath as a plug occupying the whole of its cross-section and allows some of the milk from the animal to pass the extraction point (80). Thereafter the milk is transferred into a container or other receiver and at least some of the remaining milk of that animal reaching the extraction point.
Claims11
A method of collecting a plurality of samples of milk while milking a plurality of animals at respective milking stations, comprising:
- withdrawing milk from each of said plurality of animals at each of said respective milking stations simultaneously and delivering said milk to respective holding vessels adjacent each of said respective milking stations;
- discharging milk from each of said respective holding vessels in turn in a one at a time manner into means defining a common flowpath leading from each of said holding vessels to an extraction point, said common flowpath being dimensioned such that milk flows along said common flowpath as a plug occupying the whole of its cross-section;
- raising the pressure in each of said respective holding vessels periodically to a pressure above atmospheric pressure whereby to discharge the contents thereof into said common flowpath;
- and
- transferring successive samples of milk from said common flowpath into respective sample receivers at said extraction point.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.