Method and device for milking of animals with four teats

Abstract

Apparatus and method for milking animals, comprising a control device ( 2 ), four teat cups ( 6 a to 6 d ), at least one collecting device ( 11 a , 11 b ) for collecting the extracted milk and a milking line ( 15 ) for conveying the milk, said teat cups ( 6 a to 6 d ) and said at least one collecting device ( 11 a , 11 b ) and the milking line ( 15 ) being interconnected by way of milk lines ( 10 a to 10 d , 12 a , 12 b ). A sensor device ( 13 a ) is provided and by means of said sensor device ( 13 a ) both the milk flow in at least one fore quarter ( 54, 55 ) of the udder ( 53 ) and the milk flow in at least one rear quarter ( 56, 57 ) is captured to separately control the milking operation by fore and rear udder half ( 58, 59 ).

1 . An apparatus for milking animals, comprising a control device ( 2 ), four teat cups ( 6   a  to  6   d ), at least one collecting device ( 11   a ,  11   b ) for collecting the extracted milk and a milking line ( 15 ) for conveying the milk, said teat cups ( 6   a  to  6   d ) and said at least one collecting device ( 11   a ,  11   b ) and the milking line ( 15 ) being interconnected by way of milk lines ( 10   a  to  10   d ,  12   a ,  12   b ), characterized in that at least one sensor device ( 13   a ) is provided wherein by means of said sensor device ( 13   a ) both the milk flow in at least one fore quarter ( 54 ,  55 ) of the udder ( 53 ) and the milk flow in at least one rear quarter ( 56 ,  57 ) is captured to separately control the milking operation by fore and rear udder half ( 58 ,  59 ). 
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the control device ( 2 ) emits at least a first activation signal as the milk flow value captured by the sensor device ( 13   a ) falls below a defined threshold and a predetermined waiting or check time has elapsed. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein both the threshold for the milk flow for controlling the milking process at the fore and rear udder halves ( 58 ,  59 ) and the check and waiting times for the respective udder halves can be set to different values. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 2  or  3  wherein the threshold value for the milk flow is smaller than or equal to 600 g per minute, the preferred range being smaller than or equal to 400 g per minute and larger than or equal to 50 g per minute. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to any of the  claims 2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein the waiting or check time is larger than or equal to 5 seconds and smaller than or equal to 120 seconds and preferably larger than or equal to 10 seconds and smaller than or equal to 60 seconds and particularly preferably larger than or equal to 10 seconds and smaller than or equal to 20 seconds. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to any of the  claims 2  to  5 , wherein the first activation signal is utilized to terminate the milking operation optionally at the fore or the rear udder half ( 58 ,  59 ). 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus according to any of the preceding  claims 2  to  6  wherein the first activation signal is utilized to interrupt or terminate the milking operation at the fore udder quarters ( 54 ,  55 ) wherein the second activation signal is utilized to interrupt or terminate the milking operation at the rear udder half ( 59 ). 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus according to any of the preceding  claims 2  to  7  wherein the first activation signal is utilized to interrupt or terminate the milking operation at the rear udder quarters ( 56 ,  57 ) wherein the second activation signal is utilized to interrupt or terminate the milking operation at the fore udder half ( 58 ). 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the milk flow from the fore or the rear udder half ( 58 ,  59 ) is utilized by at least one sensor device ( 13   a ,  13   b ) for controlling the milking operation at the fore or the rear udder half and wherein the sensor device is disposed either on the milking line ( 15 ) or in the short milk hose ( 10 a,  10 c). 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus according to the preceding claim wherein the values of the milk flow from the fore udder ( 58 ) or the rear udder ( 59 ) are captured by means of one sensor device ( 13   a ,  13   b ) each. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus according to any of the two preceding claims wherein the values of the milk flow from any of the fore udder ( 58 ) teats and the values of the milk flow from any of the rear udder ( 59 ) teats are captured by means of one sensor device ( 13   a ,  13   c ). 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus according to any of the preceding  claims 8  to  11  wherein the milk flows from all of the teats ( 54  to  57 ) of an udder are captured by means of a sensor device ( 13   a ). 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus according to any of the  claims 10  to  12  wherein the sensor devices ( 13   a ,  13   b ) are provided with one shut-off apparatus ( 14   a ,  14   b ) each. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus according to any of the preceding  claims 2  to  13  wherein upon a first activation signal, the milking vacuum is shut off by means of a shut-off apparatus ( 14   a ,  14   b ) optionally for the pair of teat cups ( 6   a ,  6   b ) at the fore udder half ( 58 ) or for the pair of teat cups ( 6   c ,  6   d ) at the rear udder half ( 59 ), and milking is terminated at the respective udder half. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus according to any of the preceding  claims 2  to  14  wherein upon a second activation signal the milking vacuum is shut off by means of a shut-off apparatus ( 14   a ,  14   b ) at the at least one teat cup remaining on the udder and the milking operation is terminated and the apparatus ( 25 ) for receiving two pairs of teat cups is pulled from a milking position to a parking position by means of a removal apparatus ( 18   a ). 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims wherein an apparatus for receiving two pairs of teat cups ( 25 ) is provided comprising a supporting arm ( 29 ) and a teat cup catching device ( 26 ) in which openings ( 28 ) for the milk lines ( 10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c ,  10   d ) are provided and wherein the size of the openings ( 28 ) is dimensioned so as to provide the four milk lines ( 10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c ,  10   d ) with sufficient freedom of movement during milking such that the four teat cups ( 6   a ,  6   b ,  6   c ,  6   d ) can be readily placed on the teats even in the case of different distances between teats. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each pair of teat cups is accommodated on the supporting arm ( 29 ) by one flexible connection ( 27   a ,  27   b ) such that as a pair of teat cups falls off, the weight of the fallen pair of teat cups is supported by the supporting arm ( 29 ) by means of the flexible connection ( 27   a ,  27   b ) so as to ensure that the milking process can continue at the second pair of teat cups without any substantial changes in milking conditions. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supporting arm ( 29 ) with the teat cup catching device ( 26 ) is height adjustable such that the teat cup catching device ( 26 ) can be adjusted to the different heights of the cows' udders. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus according to at least one of the  claims 10  to  18  wherein the sensor devices ( 13   a ,  13   b ) cooperate with one shut-off apparatus ( 14   a ) only. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus according to at least one of the  claims 9  to  19  wherein the sensor devices ( 13   a ,  13   b ) are provided with only one shut-off apparatus ( 14   a ,  14   b ) each, which shut-off apparatuses ( 14   a ,  14   b ) are incorporated in the sensor devices ( 13   a ,  13   b ). 
   
   
       21 . The apparatus according to at least one of the  claims 9  to  20  wherein the sensor device ( 13   a ) cooperates with one shut-off apparatus ( 14   a ) only. 
   
   
       22 . The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein a removal apparatus ( 18   a ) is provided. 
   
   
       23 . The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein at least one pulsator ( 8   a ) is provided which is suitable to alternately supply to the teat cup gaps of the teat cups ( 6   a  to  6   d ) separate by udder half, vacuum and atmospheric pressure or increased pressure and in particular different pulsation conditions wherein preferably different frequencies, pulse cycles, pressure ratios and pulse ratios may be selected. 
   
   
       24 . The apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device ( 2 ) is configured to control the milking operation on the basis of at least partially individual basic settings for the respective udder half wherein in particular at least one basic setting is selected from a group of basic settings comprising, milk flow intensities, pulse frequencies, waiting times, check times, and the like, wherein the control device is in particular suitable to differentiate between the two udder halves of each animal based on its milking history, such that milking can be performed at different settings per udder half. 
   
   
       25 . The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein at least one pulse hose ( 5   a,   5   b ,  7   a ,  7   b ,  7   c ,  7   d ) accommodates in its interior a shut-off device ( 24   a ,  24   b ) which may be actuated to ventilate the pulsation chamber of the respective teat cup to relieve a teat received in the liner interior wherein said shut-off device ( 24   a ,  24   b ) can be actuated. 
   
   
       26 . A method for milking animals, utilizing a control device ( 2 ) and four teat cups ( 6   a  to  6   d ), and at least one collecting device ( 11   a ,  11   b ) for collecting the extracted milk wherein a milking line ( 15 ) serves to convey the milk, wherein the teat cups ( 6   a  to  6   d ) and the at least one collecting device ( 11   a ,  11   b ) and the milking line ( 15 ) are interconnected by way of milk lines ( 10   a  to  10   d ,  12   a ,  12   b ) to convey the milk further, characterized in that by means of at least one sensor device ( 13   a ) both the milk flow in at least one fore quarter ( 54 ,  55 ) of the udder ( 53 ) and the milk flow in at least one rear quarter ( 56 ,  57 ) is captured and the milking operation is controlled separately by fore and rear udder halves ( 58 ,  59 ). 
   
   
       27 . The method according to  claim 26  wherein the control device ( 2 ) emits at least one first activation signal as the milk flow value captured by the sensor device ( 13   a ) falls below a defined threshold and a predetermined waiting or check time has elapsed. 
   
   
       28 . The method according to  claim 27  wherein both the threshold for the milk flow for controlling the milking process at the fore and rear udder halves ( 58 ,  59 ) and the check and waiting times can be set to different values for the respective udder halves. 
   
   
       29 . The method according to  claim 27  or  28  wherein the threshold value for the milk flow is smaller than or equal to 600 g per minute wherein the preferred range is smaller than or equal to 400 g per minute and larger than or equal to 50 g per minute. 
   
   
       30 . The method according to any of the  claims 27 ,  28  or  29 , wherein the waiting or check time is larger than or equal to 5 seconds and smaller than or equal to 120 seconds and preferably larger than or equal to 10 seconds and smaller than or equal to 60 seconds and particularly preferably larger than or equal to 10 seconds and smaller than or equal to 20 seconds. 
   
   
       31 . The method according to any of the  claims 27  to  30 , wherein the first activation signal is utilized to terminate the milking operation optionally at the fore or the rear udder half ( 58 ,  59 ). 
   
   
       32 . The method according to any of the preceding  claims 27  to  31  wherein the first activation signal is utilized to interrupt or terminate the milking operation at the fore udder quarters ( 54 ,  55 ) wherein the second activation signal is utilized to interrupt or terminate the milking operation at the rear udder half ( 59 ). 
   
   
       33 . The method according to any of the preceding  claims 27  to  32  wherein the first activation signal is utilized to interrupt or terminate the milking operation at the rear udder quarters ( 56 ,  67 ) wherein the second activation signal is utilized to interrupt or terminate the milking operation at the fore udder half ( 58 ). 
   
   
       34 . A milking operation according to any of the preceding  claims 26  to  33  wherein the milk flow from the fore or the rear udder half ( 58 ,  59 ) is utilized by way of at least one sensor device ( 13   a ,  13   b  ) for controlling the milking operation at the fore or the rear udder half and wherein the sensor device is disposed either on the milking line ( 15 ) or in the short milk hose ( 10   a ,  10   c ). 
   
   
       35 . The method according to the preceding claim wherein the values of the milk flow from the fore udder ( 58 ) or the rear udder ( 59 ) are captured by means of one sensor device ( 13   a ,  13   b ) each. 
   
   
       36 . The method according to any of the preceding  claims 26  to  35  wherein the values of the milk flow from any of the fore udder ( 58 ) teats and the values of the milk flow from any of the rear udder ( 59 ) teats are captured by means of a sensor device ( 13   a ,  13   c ). 
   
   
       37 . The method according to any of the preceding  claims 26  to  36  wherein the milk flows from all of the teats ( 54  to  57 ) of an udder ( 53 ) are captured by means of a sensor device ( 13   a ). 
   
   
       38 . The method according to any of the  claims 26  to  37  wherein the sensor devices ( 13   a ,  13   b ) are provided with one shut-off apparatus ( 14   a ,  14   b ) each. 
   
   
       39 . The method according to any of the preceding  claims 26  to  38  wherein upon a first activation signal, the milking vacuum is shut off by means of a shut-off apparatus ( 14   a ,  14   b ) optionally for the pair of teat cups ( 6   a ,  6   b ) at the fore udder half ( 58 ) or for the pair of teat cups ( 6   c ,  6   d ) at the rear udder half ( 59 ), and milking is terminated at the respective udder half. 
   
   
       40 . The method according to any of the preceding  claims 26  to  39  wherein upon a second activation signal the milking vacuum is shut off by means of a shut-off apparatus ( 14   a ,  14   b ) at the at least one teat cup remaining on the udder ( 53 ) and the milking operation is terminated and the apparatus ( 25 ) for receiving two pairs of teat cups is pulled from a milking position to a parking position by means of a removal apparatus ( 18   a ). 
   
   
       41 . The method according to at least one of the preceding  claims 26  to  40  wherein an apparatus for receiving two pairs of teat cups ( 25 ) is provided comprising a supporting arm ( 29 ) and a teat cup catching device ( 26 ) in which openings ( 28 ) for the milk lines ( 10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c ,  10   d ) are provided and wherein the size of the openings ( 28 ) is dimensioned so as to provide the four milk lines ( 10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c ,  10   d ) with sufficient freedom of movement during milking such that the four teat cups ( 6   a ,  6   b ,  6   c ,  6   d ) can be readily placed on the teats even in the case of different distances between teats. 
   
   
       42 . The method according to at least one of the preceding  claims 26  to  41 , characterized in that each pair of teat cups is accommodated on the supporting arm ( 29 ) by one flexible connection ( 27   a ,  27   b ) such that as a pair of teat cups falls off, the weight of the fallen pair of teat cups is supported by the supporting arm ( 29 ) by means of the flexible connection ( 27   a ,  27   b ) so as to ensure that the milking process can continue at the second pair of teat cups without any substantial changes in milking conditions. 
   
   
       43 . The method according to at least one of the preceding  claims 26  to  42 , characterized in that the supporting arm ( 29 ) with the teat cup catching device ( 26 ) is height adjustable such that the teat cup catching device ( 26 ) can be adjusted to the different heights of the cows' udders. 
   
   
       44 . The method according to at least one of the  claims 26  to  43  wherein the sensor devices ( 13   a ,  13   b ) cooperate with one shut-off apparatus only. 
   
   
       45 . The method according to at least one of the  claims 26  to  44  wherein the sensor devices ( 13   a ,  13   b ) are provided with only one shut-off apparatus ( 14   a ,  14   b ), which shut-off apparatuses ( 14   a ,  14   b ) are incorporated in the sensor devices ( 13   a ,  13   b ). 
   
   
       46 . The method according to at least one of the  claims 26  to  45  wherein the sensor device ( 13   a ) cooperates with one shut-off apparatus ( 14   a ) only. 
   
   
       47 . The method according to at least one of the  claims 26  to  46  wherein a removal apparatus ( 18   a ) is provided by means of which at least one teat cup is taken off. 
   
   
       48 . The method according to any of the preceding  claims 26  to  47  wherein at least one pulsator ( 8   a ) is provided by means of which the teat cup gaps of the teat cups ( 6   a  to  6   d ), separate by fore and rear udder half, are alternately supplied with vacuum and atmospheric pressure or increased pressure wherein in particular different pulsation conditions can be applied wherein preferably different frequencies, pulse cycles, pressure ratios and pulse ratios may be selected. 
   
   
       49 . The method according to any of the preceding  claims 26  to  48 , characterized in that the control device ( 2 ) controls the milking operation on the basis of at least partially individual basic settings for the respective udder halves ( 58 ,  59 ) wherein in particular at least one basic setting is selected from a group of basic settings comprising, milk flow intensities, pulse frequencies, waiting times, check times, and the like, wherein the control device in particular differentiates between the two udder halves of each animal based on its milking history, such that milking can be performed at different settings per fore and rear udder half. 
   
   
       50 . The method according to any of the preceding  claims 26  to  49  wherein at least one pulse hose ( 5   a ,  5   b ,  7   a ,  7   b ,  7   c ,  7   d ) accommodates in its interior a shut-off device ( 24   a ,  24   b ) by the actuation of which the pulsation chamber of the associated teat cup is aerated to relieve a teat located in the liner interior.