Patent Publication Number: US-2012031341-A1

Title: Milking system for mammals, preferably cattle, that differentiates when the milk is over, comprising a collector, teat cups and hoses

Description:
The present patent of invention relates to a “Milking System for Mammals”, preferably cattle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The milking process through current mechanized milking equipment (MME) consists extracting milk contained in the mammary gland quarts by means of applying a vacuum and also pulsatory system comprising a collector from which four teat cups are distributed, one per each mammary quarter; from the inside of the quarter the milk flows coming from the alveolar zone; the milk being deposited in an upper cistern attached by means of a sphincter muscle located between this and the teat. Therefore, these teat cups are the interconnection between the MME and cattle. As a result of applying vacuum to the teat, and to the pulsatory effect together with physiological aspect, the collection of milk contained is carried out in an open-loop manner under the terms of automatic control. Every mammary gland quarter is independent and is separate from the others. There is an amount of milk stored in such quarters at the level of the alveolar region; each quarter having different volumes. When the milk flow stops in the quarter containing the smaller amount of milk, relative to the others, the milking process continues until empties the content of the quarter containing the larger amount of stored milk. That is, if the quarter containing the smallest amount of milk is emptied in four minutes and the one containing the largest amount of milk is emptied in seven minutes, then we have 3 minutes of over-milking in the quarter of smallest capacity, and between 3 to 0 minutes of over-milking in the quarters emptied in second and third place. 
     The technical problem arisen from over-milking is represented by the occurrence of the disease called “subclinical mastitis” 
     Subclinical mastitis in turn causes additional technical drawbacks, such as:
     A decreased flow of milk production estimated within the range between 15 and up to 45%   Increases drug cost involving disease treatment and cattle productivity recovery.   Lower prices paid to producers as a result of the increment of somatic cells and the reduction of fat content in the milk.   Decline in meat quality resulting from drugs treatments.   Decline in cattle service life.   

     The Milking System of the invention shown in FIG. No.  1 , consists of an alternative to removal of each of the teat cup automatically and independently when the milk volume is over in each particular mammary gland quarter, thus avoiding over-milking in each of the others. This system being carried out by a controller comprising specific elements and sensors, in a closed loop system under the terms of automatic control, since now the milking system “differentiates” and recognizes when the milk flow stops in every quarter in an independent and sequential manner relative to the other quarters. 
    
    
     
       FIGURE DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. No  1  comprises an MME, depicting the teat cups in Not, discrete flow sensor in No  2 , vacuum sensors in No  3 , a short-pass hose milk in No  4 , short hose pulsatory flow in No  5 , milk collector in No  6 , long hose milk in No.  7 , long hose pulsatory flow in No  8 , logic control in No  9 , and interconnections between logic control and discrete flow and vacuum sensors, respectively in No  10  and  11 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The proposed system is specifically connected to each duct of the MME which conveys the milk from the mammary quarter to the collector (see FIG. No  1 ). The four teat cups, connected by means of a hose to the receiving milk collector, are the ones involved to insert between said teat cup and the collector two sensors per each teat cup, a discrete flow sensor and a vacuum sensor. Both sensors from each teat cup are connected to a logic control device which comprises electronic components and including a software that allows the removal of the teat cup corresponding to the mammary gland quarter under drug treatment. 
     The logic control (FIG. No  1 ) is activated when the teat cups have been placed on the mammary quarters, and the sensor elements detects the presence of milk, which is pulsatory in each quarter. This is perceived by the controller in an independent manner for each mammary quarter, subsequently acknowledging the signal sent by the same sensor element when the milk flow stops from the specific mammary quarter. 
     Once the logic control acknowledges the signal indicating that the milk flow stops from such quarter, a pre-established interval takes place due to physiological reasons of the animal itself, and it commands to the vacuum sensor the removal of the specific teat cup. This process is repeated until the withdrawal from the four mammary quarters is completed. 
     Quadratic Model Fit (Quadratic Polynomial) 
     
       
         
           
             
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     Main Parameters Determined in Milk Are: 
     
         
         SCC=Somatic cell count 
         TS=Total solids (Kgs/day) 
         SNF=Solid-Non Fat sol(Kgs/day) 
         FC=Fat content (Kgs/day) 
         The somatic cell count is made electronically as well as the compositional aspects. 
         DMP=Daily milk production (liters/day) 
         This scoring scale corresponds to the natural logarithm fraction e=2,8182 
       
    
     
       
         
           
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         0=0−12,500 (cell./thousand) 
         1=12,501−25,000 
         2=25,001−50,000 
         3=50,001−100,000 
         4=100,001−200,000 
         5=200,001−400,000 
         6=400,001−800,000 
         7=800,001−1,600,000 
         8=1,600,001−3,200,000 
         9=3,200,001 and more 
       
    
     Milk Quality Daily Control Sheet 
     Manual Case 
       
     
       
         
           
               
            
               
                   
               
               
                 YEAR 2009    MONTH:    DAY: 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Total 
               
               
                   
                 Parameters 
                 B2 
                 B3 
                 Production 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 t ° C. 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Location 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Weather 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Bovine 2 (B2) 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Bovine 3 (B3) 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Milking time B2 (AM) 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Onset time B2 (min, sec) 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Finish time B2 (min, sec) 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Duration t B2 (min, sec) 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Milking time B3 (AM) 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Onset time B3 (min, sec) 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Finish time B3 (min, sec) 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Duration t B3 (min, sec) 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Milking time B2 (PM) 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Onset time B2 (min, sec) 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Finish time B2 (min, sec) 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Duration t B2 (min, sec) 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Milking time B3 (PM) 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Onset time B3 (min, sec) 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Finish time B3 (min, sec) 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Duration t B3 (min, sec) 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Quality control criteria: Quadratic model fit 
               
               
                 Model Parameters: SCC, TS, SNG, FC, DMP 
               
               
                 Quadratic polynomial form: DMP, TS, FC, SNG = a + b(SCC) + c(SCC) a   
               
               
                 Bovine B2 = Second lactancy (Breed) 
               
               
                 Bovine B3 = Third lactancy (Breed)