Method and arrangement for controlling the milking by a milking machine
AssigneeDeLaval Holding AB
InventorsOla Sandberg, Torbjorn Petterson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for controlling the milking by a milking machine includes, during an initial phase of the milking, increasing a milking vacuum and/or a maximum pulsation vacuum for the milking gradually from a first selected vacuum level (1L) towards a second selected vacuum level (2L) to thereby improve teat stimulation and decreasing the risk of a second milk letdown. When a second milk letdown (2ML) is detected, the maximum pulsation vacuum is preferably immediately lowered to a third selected vacuum level (3L), and is kept at that third selected vacuum level until a certain milk flow has been established, whereupon the pulsation vacuum level is then again increased gradually until the second selected vacuum level is reached.
Claims25
A method for controlling milking by a milking machine, comprising the steps of:
- monitoring a milk flow rate of milk provided by a milking animal by a milk flow measuring device;
- and
- during an initial stimulation phase of milking in which a teat of the milking animal is stimulated to cause the milk to initially flow from the teat of the milking animal, increasing a milking vacuum for said milking gradually from a first selected milking vacuum level (1L) to a second selected milking vacuum level (6L) by controlling a vacuum pump connected to a milking device that is connected to the milking animal to improve teat stimulation and decrease the risk of a second milk letdown after a first milk letdown, the vacuum pump controlling a flow of air from the milking device via a first vacuum conduit to increase the milking vacuum,
- wherein the milking vacuum is increased gradually during the initial stimulation phase at a first vacuum level rate of change during a first part (1P) of said increase and at a second vacuum level rate of change during a following second part (2P) by the vacuum pump, changing from said first vacuum level rate of change to said second vacuum level rate of change when the milk flow rate exceeds a first selected threshold value (1TH), the changing being a function of the monitored milk flow rate monitored by the milk flow measuring device, said second vacuum level rate of change being higher than said first vacuum level rate of change.
A method for controlling milking by a milking machine, comprising the steps of:
- monitoring a milk flow rate of milk provided by a milking animal by a milk flow measuring device;
- and
- during an initial stimulation phase of milking in which a teat of the milking animal is stimulated to cause the milk to initially flow from the teat of the milking animal, increasing a milking vacuum gradually from a first selected vacuum level (1L) to a second selected vacuum level (6L) by controlling a vacuum pump connected to a milking device that is connected to the milking animal to improve teat stimulation and decrease the risk of a second milk letdown after a first milk letdown, the vacuum pump controlling a flow of air from the milking device via a vacuum conduit to increase the milking vacuum,
- wherein the milking vacuum is increased gradually during the initial stimulation phase at a first vacuum level rate of change during a first part (1P) of said increase and at a second vacuum level rate of change during a following second part (2P) by the vacuum pump, the increase from the first vacuum level rate of change to the second vacuum level rate of change occurring when the monitored milk flow exceeds a selected threshold value (1TH), said second vacuum level rate of change being higher than said first vacuum level rate of change.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.