PROCEDURE AND MEANS FOR PRODUCER-SPECIFIC MILK SAMPLING

Abstract: In farm tank collection, the milk is conducted from a farm milk tank (1) along a suction tube (7) to a tank lorry (9) by drawing the milk with the aid of a milk pump (8). The milk sample is taken with a sampling means placed between the shut-off valve (4) and the milk drawing tube (7). In can collection, the milk is conducted from a milk container, or can, along a suction pipe and a suction tube to the tank lorry with the aid of a milk pump. The milk sample is taken with a sampling means placed between the suction pipe and the milk discharge connector. The sampling means (5) comprises a body component, a sampling nipple and a sampling jar (6) attachable to the sampling nipple and/or the body component.

Description: Procedure and means for producer-specific milk sampling The present invention concerns a procedure for producer-specific milk sampling in farm tank collection, in which the milk is conducted from a farm milk tank along a suction tube to a tank lorry by drawing the milk with the aid of a milk pump, and a procedure for producer-specific sampling in milk can collection, in which the milk is conducted from a milk container, or can, along a suction pipe and suction tube to the tank lorry with the aid of a milk pump. The invention also concerns a means for producer-specific milk sampling in farm tank collection, respectively in can collection, in which the milk is conducted from a farm milk tank, respectively from a milk container, or can, along a suction tube, respectively a suction pipe and suction tube, to the tank lorry with the aid of a milk pump. One of the problems in producer-specific sampling is how to obtain a sufficiently reliable and representative sample of the milk to be examined. It is important, in the quality assessment of the milk sold by the producer to the dairy, that the sample represents specifically the milk of the producer in question and in that state in which the milk is handed over from the producer to the dairy. It is furthermore of importance that the sample is not affected by the quality of milk of any other producer, nor by the condition or deficient hygiene of the apparatus used by the dairy towards sampling or milk collection. The point at which the milk is handed over from the producer to the dairy can be imagined as being located at the end of the dis- charge connector of the farm tank in farm tank collection, and at the end of the suction pipe of the suction apparatus in can collection. A procedure is in common use nowadays in which the sample is taken from carefully mixed milk from the farm tank with sterile implements into a sterile container. However, problems that occur are: poorly mixed milk, bacteria present in the discharge connector and which are not represented in the sample, and the task of keeping the sampling implements clean all through the long collection tour. In farm tank collection, the milk in the discharge connector of the tank and in the immediate vicinity of the shut-off valve has significance in view of the milk's bacteria content, because the milk in the discharge connector is usually difficult to cool properly and the shut-off valve is often the part of the farm tank which is most difficult to clean. A drawback of sampling apparatus accommodated in the measuring apparatus space of the milk collection lorry is that it cannot be cleaned and sterilized other than at certain washing sites, usually in the dairy. Milk from other producers, and bacteria present in such milk, remain particularly in the suction tube used in milk collection. Hereby, the sample taken from the measuring apparatus space does not represent the same batch of milk which was just pumped through the measuring apparatus because the milk batches from other producers distort the representativeness of the sample taken from the milk batch of the next producer. The apparatus in the measuring apparatus space of the lorry also presents the drawback that bacteria may grow in the tube and contaminate the sample. It has been found in practice that the milk composition varies in a stratified manner in the farm tank of the milk producer, even though th tank is provided with a mixer. Since the fat, protein and bacteria contents of the milk determine its price, samples must be taken for analysis of composition and for microbiological analysis. However, the stratification of the milk creates problems in this sampling. The object of the invention is to provide a procedure in which the sample is not affected by the quality of the milk from any other producer nor by the condition or deficient hygiene of the apparatus used by the dairy in the sampling or milk collecting process. The aims of the invention are achieved by a procedure which is mainly characterized in that, in farm tank collection, a milk sample is taken with a sampling means placed between the shut-off valve and the milk drawing tube, and in can collection the milk sample is taken with a sampling means placed between the suction pipe and the milk drawing tube. The means of the invention is in turn mainly characterized in that the sampling means is placed between the shut-off valve of the farm milk tank and the milk drawing tube, respectively between the suction pipe for the milk container, or can, and the milk drawing tube. For eliminating the above problems, a fixedly installed sampling means has been designed which in farm tank collection is placed in the discharge connector of the farm tank after the shut-off valve, and between the suction pipe and milk drawing tube in milk can collection. The sampling means automatically separates from the milk a representative sample during the pumping. In modern milk collecting lorries it is possible to wash the suction pipe after each use. The sampling means consists of a cylindrical body component fixedly mounted on the farm tank, a sampling nipple and a sample jar which can be hermetically attached to the sampling nipple or to the body component. The construction of the sampling means enables easy cleaning in connection with normal washing of the farm tank. The hygiene of the body component is the producer's responsibility. The end of the sampling means connecting with the farm tank is constructed so as to fit all farm tanks in use, and it is provided with suitable fixing elements. The end of the sampling means towards the suction tube is similar in construction to the normal discharge connector of the farm tank, and a collecting tube can be connected thereto as to the normal discharge connector. A sampling nipple serves as sampling means proper. One sampling nipple may be used several times, provided that it is cleaned well enough between uses. The person starting on his/her way to perform the sampling is given sample jars, which have been marked in advance, and a sufficient number of clean sampling nipples. The person taking the samples mounts the sterile parts he/she has with him/her at the sampling point. The sampling nipple and jar are hermetically sealed to the body component of the sampling means for the duration of sampling. On concluded sampling, the sample jar is hermetically sealed and placed in a particular transport receptacle, and the sampling nipple is placed in the collecting container for potential later cleaning. If it is desired to reuse the sampling nipples, they are washed, packed in plastic bags and sterilized in an autoclave for later use. The sample jars may be disposable, or they too are washed and sterilized. By the procedure and means of the invention, for instance the following advantages are gained: - the sample is taken at the "right" spot at the "right" time. - the milk of other producers cannot affect the sample that has been taken. - all samples are proportional to the milk quantity. - the use is simple. - the person taking the sample has no influence on the representativeness of the sample. - the procedure implies no great investment. - operations are not tied to "collection route thinking". - the operation is simple and therefore reliable. - the milk supplier and the receiver can both establish that the sampling is done from the "proper" milk. ~ - sampling takes place uniformly from the whole milk batch. The invention is described in detail, reference being made to some advantageous embodiments of the invention presented in the figures of the drawing attached, to which, however, the invention is not intended to be exclusively confined. Fig. 1 presents the procedure of the invention in schematic elevational view as applied in farm tank collection. Fig. 2 presents the procedure of the invention in schematic elevational view as applied in can collection. Fig. 3 presents a detail of the means of the invention on enlarged scale in partly sectioned elevational view. In the embodiment of Fig. 1, the farm milk tank is indicated by reference numeral 1. A motor 3 has been disposed to rotate the mixing means 2 inside the farm tank 1. From the farm milk tank 1, a suction tube 7 leads to a tank lorry 9. The milk pump is indicated by reference numeral 8. The sampling means 5 of the invention is placed between the shut- off valve 4 and the milk drawing tube 7. The sampling means 5 is provided with a sampling jar 6. In the embodiment of Fig. 2, the portable milk container, or can, is indicated by reference numeral 11. The milk suction pipe is indicated by reference numeral 12 and the suction tube to the tank lorry 9 by reference numeral 7, as in the embodiment of Fig. 1. In the present embodiment, the sampling means 5 of the invention has been placed between the suction pipe 12 and the milk drawing tube 7. By reference numeral 10 is indicated the coupling connector for the suction tube 7. In Fig. 3 is presented the more detailed construction of the sampling means 5. The sampling means 5 comprises a body component 14 and a sampling nipple 13, to which the sampling jar 6 is attached. The sample taken from the milk is disposed to run into the sampling jar 6 along a tubular connector 15 on the sampling nipple 13. The air in the sampling jar 6 and that entering with the milk flows along another tubular connector 16 from the sampling jar 6 through the sampling nipple 13 to the cylindrical body component 14, and further along the suction tube 7 onwards. By reference numeral 17 are indicated sampling needles, if any. In the procedure and means of the invention, the sampling means 5 is placed on the discharge connector of the farm tank 1 after the shut-off valve 4, respectively in can collection between the suction pipe 12 and the suction tube 7. The sampling means 5 is arranged to separate automatically a representative sample from the milk during the pumping. The sampling means 5 consists of a body component 14 fixedly mounted on the farm tank 1. a sampling nipple 13 and a sample jar 6 hermetically connectable to the sampling nipple 13 and/or the body component 14. When no sample is taken, the hole in the body component 14 for the sampling nipple 13 is kept closed with a plug or equivalent. The body component 14 of the sampling means 5 is tank-specific and permanently mounted in place in farm tank collection. Its design allows easy cleaning in connection with the normal washing of the farm tank 1. The end of the sampling means 5 towards the farm tank 1 is so designed that it fits all farm tanks in current use, and it is provided with suitable fixing elements. The end of the sampling means 5 towards the suction tube 7 is equivalent in structure to the normal discharge connector of the farm tank, and a collector tube can be connected to it in like manner as to a normal discharge connector. In the procedure and means of the invention, the sampling nipple 13 serves as actual sampling member. The procedure and means of the invention enable the repeated use of one sampling nipple 13, provided that it is sufficiently cleaned in between. In the procedure of the invention, the person doing the sampling is given pre-marked sample jars 6 and a sufficient number of sampling nipples 13. The person doing the sampling mounts the hygienic parts he/she has with him/her at the sampling point. The sampling nipple 13 and the sampling jar 6 are hermetically sealed to the body component 14 for the duration of sampling. After the sampling process, the sampling jar 6 is hermetically closed and placed in a particular transport receptacle, and the sampling nipple 13 is placed in the collecting container for potential later cleaning in the dairy. In the foregoing, only some embodiments of the invention have been described and it is obvious to a person skilled in the art that numerous modifications can be made within the scope of the inventive idea presented in the claims following below.

Claims: Claims 1. A procedure for producer-specific milk sampling in farm tank collection, in which the milk is conducted from a farm milk tank (1) along a suction tube (7) to a tank lorry (9) by drawing the milk with the aid of a milk pump (8), characterized in that the milk sample is taken with a sampling means (5) placed between a shut-off valve (4) and the milk drawing tube (7). 2. Procedure for producer-specific milk sampling in can collection, in which the milk is conducted from a milk container, or can, (11) along a suction pipe (12) and a suction tube (7) to the tank lorry with the aid of a milk pump (8), characterized in that the milk sample is taken with a sampling means (5) placed between the suction pipe (12) and the milk drawing tube (7). 3. Procedure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that an exchangeable, disposable or cleanable and repeatedly usable, sampling member (13) is used in the sampling. 4. A means for producer-spefic milk sampling in farm tank collection, respectively in can collection, in which the milk is conducted from a farm milk tank (1), respectively from a milk container, or can, (11), along a suction tube (7), respectively along a suction pipe (12) and a suction tube (7) , to a tank lorry (9) with the aid of a milk pump (8), characterized in that the sampling means (5) is placed between the shut-off valve (4) of the farm milk tank (11) and the milk drawing tube (7), respectively between the suction pipe (12) of the milk container, or can, (11) and the milk drawing tube (17). 5. Means according to claim 4, characterized in that the sampling means (5) comprises a body component (14), a sampling nipple (13) and a sampling jar (6) attachable to the sampling nipple (13) and/or the body component (14). 6. Means according to claim 5, characterized in that the body component (14) of the sampling means (5) is fixedly mounted on the farm tank (1), respectively on the suction pipe (12). 7. Means according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that on the sampling nipple (13) is disposed a first tubular connector (15) , along which the milk has been arranged to flow to the sampling jar (6), and a second tubular connector (16) along which the air in the sampling jar and the air entering with the milk is arranged to flow from the sampling jar (6) to the body component (14) and, further, along the suction tube (7) onward. 8. Means according to any one of claims 4-7, characterized in that the sampling member (13) is an exchangeable, disposable or cleanable and reusable, sampling means.

Inventors: SANTASALO HANNU, SANTASALO, HANNU
Applicants: SANTASALO SOHLBERG AB OY, OY SANTASALO-SOHLBERG AB
Application year: 1985
Main classification: G01N1
IPC codes: G01N1, G01N33