Patent ID: 7051673
Filing Date: 2006-05-30
Classification: A01J

Abstract:
1. A pulsator controller for use in a milking system, said pulsator controller comprising a first sensor configured to be a operatively connected to a designated pulsator operating in a milking system for receiving a pulsating vacuum therefrom and for producing a first signal representing the pulsating vacuum level received from the designated pulsator; a processor operatively connected to a memory or to a remote computer having a memory, said memory storing pulsator malfunction criteria as a reference table and stored reference signals representing a predetermined vacuum range of pulsating vacuum levels programmed as acceptable for milking system pulsators, said processor being operatively connected to said first sensor for receiving said first signal representing said pulsating vacuum level from the designated pulsator and wherein said processor includes a comparator for comparing said first signal to the stored reference, said processor generating at least one control signal when the designed pulsator pulsating vacuum level is at a vacuum level outside of the predetermined vacuum range; and at least one information signal generated by the processor from the pulsator malfunction criteria reference table identifying the pulsator malfunction represented by the at least one control signal; and a control circuit responsive to said at least one control signal for signaling that the designated pulsator pulsating vacuum level is outside of the range of pulsating vacuum levels programmed as acceptable for the milking system pulsators.