Patent Publication Number: US-2021176950-A1

Title: System and method for handling a bulk fluid

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a system and method for monitoring the characteristics of a bulk fluid. More particularly, this invention relates to a system and method for monitoring characteristics such as temperature of milk and determining compliance with standards. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     The following references to and descriptions of prior proposals or products are not intended to be, and are not to be construed as, statements or admissions of common general knowledge in the art. In particular, the following prior art discussion should not be assumed to relate to what is commonly or well known by the person skilled in the art, but to assist in the inventive process undertaken by the inventor(s) and in the understanding of the invention. 
     Ensuring the quality of products intended for human consumption is important not only for safety but also to ensure the suppliers obtain the best price for their product. In the case of bulk fluids such as milk, suppliers such as dairies collect milk from a number of animals, store it in bulk in a vat, where it is then transported to manufacturers. 
     There are a number of standards for handling raw milk collected at dairies, specifically relating to temperature and milking times. For example, European requirements are that milk must be cooled immediately, within 2 hours from completion of milking, to no more than 8° C. in the case of daily collection, and 6° C. in the case where milk is not collected daily. Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) guidelines for raw milk collection advise that milk should be cooled on farm collection to 5° C. within 3.5 hours from the start of milking. This is more stringent than the European standards, and also requires measurement of different parameters, namely the time milking starts, rather than the time milking stops. Failure to comply with either or both of the standards can result in the milk and subsequent products being of unacceptable quality and/or unable to be sold. 
     In one simple scenario, milk from one milking of a herd of dairy cows is collected into a vat, where the milk is typically around 37° C. The milk is then cooled to below the required temperature. Once fully cooled, the milk may be picked up by tanker lorry or truck for delivery to a processing installation for packaging or transforming into other products, such as homogenised milk, reduced-fat milk, yoghurt and cream. Typically, the milk temperature is measured just prior to transfer from the vat to the delivery truck to ensure compliance. An object of the present invention is to ameliorate the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art or to at least provide a useful alternative thereto. 
     STATEMENT OF INVENTION 
     The invention according to one or more aspects is as defined in the independent claims. The claims may include features additional to the invention, or may exclude in the initial documents filed features that are ultimately used to characterise the invention. Some optional and/or preferred features of the invention are defined in the dependent claims. 
     Accordingly, in one aspect of the invention there is provided:
         A bulk fluid monitoring system including:
           one or more sensors providing data in relation to a plurality of properties of a bulk volume of a fluid;   a memory for holding:
               a set of data parameters;   the data provided by the sensors; and   a predetermined time-and-temperature requirement for the fluid corresponding to the set of data parameters that comply by falling on or within ranges of values either side of a standard time and temperature curve for the fluid;   
               a processor; and   an output;   
           wherein the processor:
           processes the sensor data to generate sensor information;   compares the sensor information with the set of data parameters to generate a compliance value; and   sends a signal to the output to generate an indicator of non-compliance where the compliance value corresponds to the fluid being outside the set of data parameters.   
               

     The system may provide the advantage of determining whether the bulk fluid has been handled correctly, without requiring manual input at the time and point of collection. 
     Specifically, by monitoring the set of parameters including one or more parameters of the bulk fluid according to a standard set of parameters, not only can a record of the handling of the fluid be created by the processor and generated as a compliance information report, but compliance information and features about collection of the fluid can be determined independent of manual input. Such compliance information can be collated, for example by the processor. The compliance information may be sent to a remote information processing device or installation for monitoring and logistics applications. The compliance information may be used to coordinate the collection of the fluid from a plurality of collection points and transport to one or more destinations. 
     The one or more sensors may include a plurality of sensors. The sensors preferably include a sensor for measuring the temperature of a bulk fluid and a sensor for measuring a change in the volume of the bulk fluid. The measurement of a change in the volume of the bulk fluid may provide an advantage that the time that collection of the fluid is started or the time of completion of collection of the bulk fluid can be determined. This measurement can be made independent of, or without, manual input regarding collection start and finish times. 
     Manual input might involve an operator actively taking a temperature measurement when the operator considers it timely to do so. Reliance in the prior art is on the operator timeously and accurately making the measurements, noting that compliance, consistency and accuracy have been reliant on individual operators. 
     The system&#39;s memory may store for information in relation to at least one set of standards for temperature and time parameters for a bulk fluid. This provides the advantage of allowing the temperature of the bulk fluid to be compared to one or a number of standards. 
     The output may provide information in relation to one or more of:
         a data logging device;   a communication network to transmit information to a remote location; and   an indicator.       

     The indicator preferably is adapted to provide an audible or visual signal associated with the indicator of non-compliance. The indicator may include a visual or audible indication of whether the properties of the bulk fluid being monitored are within one of, or a plurality of, the standards for temperature parameters stored on the device. 
     The fluid is preferably a liquid. The fluid may be temperature sensitive. The fluid may degrade, denature or become unstable beyond a predetermined temperature range. The predetermined range may correspond to a particular cooling envelope. This may define higher and lower acceptable temperatures for a fluid at a particular time in a time line describing permissible temperatures for the fluid over a period of time. The fluid may be a food product. The fluid may be milk. The milk may be liquid milked immediately prior to collection as a bulk volume of milk. 
     The time and temperature curve for the fluid may include one or more milk cooling curves. One or more cooling curve standards may be stored in the memory of the monitoring system. The one or more stored cooling curve standards may be compared to the measured values of temperature and volume of the milk. The measurements may be progressively recorded as the fluid is collected and delivered to a fluid container, such as a vat or fluid transport tanker, including a milk tanker. The measurements are preferably taken of the fluid in the container as the volume of the fluid in the container changes. 
     Typically, the fluid is first collected in a bulk storage installation at the site of collection. For example, milk may be extracted from a plurality of cow and delivered to a milk vat. The bulk fluid monitoring system monitors the milk as it is delivered to a vat, measuring the temperature of the fluid and the change in volume. The change in volume enables the detection of the start, the filling period and the finishing time of the milking period, to provide the data required for the cooling curve for the fluid. 
     The memory may be in the form of a data storage device. The cooling curve of the fluid may be logged and stored in the memory. This may provide a full history of the temperature of the fluid from initial collection in a bulk fluid storage container, to transfer to a tanker transport for delivery. 
     In another aspect of the invention described above, the invention provides a method of utilising the bulk fluid monitoring system to monitor a bulk fluid in a storage container, as the fluid is collected from one or more local sources and transferred to the container, the method including the steps of:
         receiving and storing data or information regarding desired properties of a particular type of fluid;   monitoring the properties of a changing volume of the fluid corresponding to the particular type of fluid in a storage container;   determining time based measurable properties of the fluid over time and storing those time based properties;   comparing the time based properties of the fluid to the stored information of the fluid; and   outputting the result of the comparison.       

     In another aspect of the invention described above, the invention provides a method of utilising the bulk fluid monitoring system to monitor a bulk fluid in a storage container, the fluid being a particular type of fluid, as the fluid is collected from one or more local sources and transferred to the container, the method including the steps of:
         storing information regarding desired properties of the fluid or a broad curve delineating a range of acceptable values of one or more properties of the particular type of the fluid over time;   receiving and monitoring the properties of a changing volume of the bulk fluid corresponding to the particular type of fluid in a storage container;   determining time based properties of the changing volume of the fluid;   comparing the time based properties of the fluid to the stored information of the fluid; and   generating an output indicating the result of the comparison being that the time based properties fall within or outside the range delineated by the stored information.       

     The step of receiving and storing information regarding desired properties of the fluid includes receiving information in relation to temperature of the fluid over time and/or relative to the volume of the fluid in the bulk fluid storage container. 
     The method of monitoring a bulk fluid may include calculating the sensor information with regard to the start time and/or the end time of the fluid entering the storage container based on volume information. The method may further include calculating the sensor information with regard to the start time and/or the end time of the fluid entering the storage container based on the temperature information of the fluid. 
     In another optional feature of the invention, there is provided a tanker metering control system comprising a vat monitoring device comprising:
         sensors measuring at least one property of a bulk fluid;   a data storage device for storing at least one standard comprising a set of parameters   in relation to the property measured over time; and   an output device,
 
control system adapted to:
   compare the measured property with the standard;   determine if the property measured over time complies with the standard; and   generate a fluid volume, viability and readiness indicator in the output device.       

     The bulk fluid monitoring system preferably includes a tanker metering controller installed or mounted on a tanker vehicle. The controller is preferably in communication with the monitoring device associated with the vat that is adapted to receive a bulk food fluid. The bulk fluid characteristically has time critical properties that are vital to food safety. Typically, the time critical property is temperature over time. For the monitoring of the bulk fluid, the vat includes the sensors measuring at least the temperature of the bulk fluid over time. The tanker vehicle may also have sensors for measuring at least the temperature of the bulk fluid contained in the vehicle tank over time. This may be achieved by taking periodic measurements of the property of the bulk fluid. These data measurements may be collected by the controller. Advantageously, a remote server may process the data or information from the monitoring device and the controller to determine an optimal driving route of the tanker vehicle, and pickup and delivery times. 
     The tank monitoring device may be in communication with the processor. The processor may include a data storage device that stores at least one standard set of property over time parameters in relation to the property measured over time. The processor has an out put device. The processor also generates output information including the location of the vehicle at periodic intervals. 
     The monitoring system may be adapted to:
         compare the measured property with the standard;   determine if the property measured over time complies with the standard; and   generate a fluid volume, viability and readiness indicator in the output device.       

     The tanker metering control system is preferably linked to a tanker route control system. The fluid volume, viability and readiness indicator may be used to prepare a transport schedule. Multiple fluid volume, viability and readiness indicators each generated by a plurality of tanker metering control systems in spaced locations may be used to prepare a transport schedule.
         The transport schedule may determine an optimal route for at least one tanker. The transport schedule or optimal route may be communicated to a remote smart or navigation device. The smart and/or navigation device may be used by a driver or navigator to determine the transport route to be followed to pick up deliveries of the bulk fluid, according to the fluid volume, viability and readiness indicator at each location. Preferably, each vat monitoring device at each spaced location captures the level and temperature of a bulk fluid contained in each vat at each location.       

     The tanker metering control system is preferably adapted to control the tanker pickups. The tanker metering control system may measure and capture, as an output to the output device, information regarding the amount loaded and the temperature of an amount of bulk fluid retrieved at a location. 
     The tanker metering control system may be used for route planning and route optimisation of a tanker transport utilising the indicator information generated by the tanker metering control system. 
     According to the invention, vat monitoring advantageously allows the monitoring system to determine how much milk is at a particular location (such as a dairy farm), what the temperature of the bulk fluid currently is in the vat, and the expected time that the fluid, according to the fluid volume, viability and readiness indicator, will be ready for pick up by the tanker. In the context of the fluid being milk, the monitoring system may be used to determine when the milk contained in the vat will be cooled to the right temperature ready to be picked up. 
     The tanker metering control system may be supplied with real-time information on what tankers are available with the system, what their capacity is, and what fluid capacity is according to their configuration, eg. with reference to compartment sizes. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention may be better understood from the following non-limiting description of preferred embodiments, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is schematic representation of the bulk fluid monitoring system of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a graph representing an example of a temperature, volume and a milk cooling curve of a bulk fluid in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart of an example method for monitoring a bulk fluid in a container in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a flow chart of an example method for monitoring a bulk fluid in a container in accordance with another aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a monitor/processor module for use with a system according to one aspect of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective rear view of a tanker transport having installed therein and thereon a system according to one aspect of the invention; 
         FIG. 7  is workflow chart for a system according to one aspect of the invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is a table of alternative maximum and minimum flow rates for use in a flow meter incorporated in a system made according to one aspect of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Preferred features of the present invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it is to be understood that the features illustrated in and described with reference to the drawings are not to be construed as limiting on the scope of the invention. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a bulk fluid monitoring system including a processor in the form of a monitor  10  is provided as shown in  FIG. 1 . A monitor  10  includes input  20  to provide information in relation to parameters of a fluid of a bulk fluid container such as a tank or, as shown, a vat  100 . The vat  100  includes internal space  106  able to contain a volume of the fluid. The vat  100  is adapted to hold a fluid  110 , such as milk. The vat  100  has attached to it at least one sensor  120 . The sensor  120  may measure one of many properties of the fluid  110 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the sensor is a temperature sensor  120  that is adapted to measure the temperatures of the fluid  110  through a range of possible temperatures for that fluid  110  in the applicable environment, such as milk obtained from recently milked livestock. The sensor  120  is one of a plurality of sensors  120 , 122 , 130 , 135 . The sensors  120 , 122 , 130 , 135  include the temperature sensor  120  and a fluid level sensor  130 . The vat  100  includes an inlet port  102  and an outlet port  104 . Other sensors (not shown) may be provided that measure parameters such as flow rate, for example as fluid  110  travels through the inlet or outlet ports  102 , 104 . The fluid  110  level  111  may be measured a number of ways, including by using a ultrasonic pulse sensor  131  installed in the upper lid or ceiling  108  of the tank or vat  100  to detect the level  111  of the fluid  110  or a submersible pressure sensor  130 . In the present embodiment, fluid level  111  is measured by reference to a flow rate sensor  135 . The flow rate measurements from sensor  135  are employed to indicate start or end times in the delivery process of the fluid  110  to the vat  100 . 
     The flow rate sensor  135  is installed at or adjacent the inlet  102  and includes non-invasive or non-contacting pulse detection or infra-red techniques that measure flow rate without contaminating the fluid  110 . 
     The fluid  110  in the form of milk requires cooling as soon as it enters the internal space  106  of the vat  100  for storage. There may be multiple milkings that each deliver a batch of milk per vat to the vat  100  over a period of time. Each influx of milk from a new milking not only increases the volume Vi of the fluid  110  in the vat  100 , but also increases the temperature of the fluid  110  already contained in the vat  100 . The milk  112  newly introduced to the vat  100  is warmer than the collected fluid  110  already in the vat internal space  106 . The just-collected milk  112 , typically may have a temperature of up to or around 37° C. The newly collected milk  112  mixes with the previously collected, and cooled, fluid  110 . The previously stored fluid  110  is ideally stored at a target temperature T at or below a temperature according to a milk cooling curve. A cooling curve  220  suitable for the introduction of new milk  112  into the vat  100  is shown in  FIG. 2 . The target temperature T will vary depending on what is applicable for the particular application and jurisdiction. For example, a target temperature T in the range of 2-8° C., specifically such as 2, 4, 6 or 8° C., may be applicable. An example of temperature and volumes of fluid  110  in the vat  100  is shown in  FIG. 2 . The temperature sensor  120  measures the temperature of the fluid  110  in the vat  100  and outputs this data via a communication link  161 . Temperature data from the temperature sensor  120  is shown in  FIG. 2  as a temperature line  200 . In terms of a time line, the corresponding information from volume sensor  130  is shown in the form of volume line  210 . Using a 24 hour clock, the horizontal time line shown in the  FIG. 2  graph spans a period from mid-afternoon (14:28 or 2.28 pm) to mid-morning (9:47 am) of the following day, i.e. a period of just over 19 hours. 
     In the  FIG. 2  example shown, the vat  100  starts off empty with zero volume Vi of fluid  110  at 15:41. When a new milking occurs, commencing at around 4 pm, the affect is to increase the volume V with an initial volume V 1  of milk in the vat  100  as new milk  112  is added to the initially empty vat  100 . The volume line  210  is shown to rapidly increase over a period until about 6 pm from an initial zero base. When the new milking finishes delivery of new milk  112  at around 6 pm, the level  111  is just over 30% of the vat&#39;s 100 maximum volume capacity. 
     During the first new milking period between about 4 and 6 pm, actively cooling of the vat&#39;s fluid  110  contents over a period of about 150 mins., from an initial temperature T spike of about 29° C. around 4.30 pm to about 2° C. at about 7 pm. 
     When an additional second or subsequent milking occurs in which a further batch of new milk  112  is delivered into the vat  100  having already received the first initial batch of fluid  110 , the newly milked or obtained milk  112  is added to the existing stored fluid  110  in the vat  100 . This is represented in the graph in  FIG. 2 , with the second batch of new milk  112  commencing to be delivered through the inlet  102  into the vat  100  at about 5 am on the timeline, with delivery to the vat  100  of a second batch volume V 2  of milk completed just after 7 am, i.e. over a second batch delivery period of about 2 hours. 
     The added milk  112  of volume V 2  from the second batch will have a higher temperature, compared to the ambient temperature, and compared to the already cooled fluid  110  in the vat  100 . This causes an overall increase in the temperature of the fluid  110  in the vat  100 , as well as an increase in the volume V of the mixture of milk fluid  110 , 112  in the vat  100  to just over 50% of the capacity of the vat  100  as represented by the volume line  210 . 
       FIG. 2  shows a graphical representation of an example of a cooling curve  220 . The target cooling curve  220  is shown as a comparison with the actual temperature line  200 , allowing a visual representation of the actual temperature  200  of the milk  110  in the vat  100  compared to the permissible or desirable range of temperatures of the milk over time as represented by the cooling curve  220 . 
     The monitor  10  compares the data from the temperature sensors  120  to the desired temperature of the fluid  110  as represented by the cooling curve  220 . 
     In  FIG. 2  the bottom axis represents time, from 14:28:10 to 9:47:57. At TIME 23:27:59, the temperature of the fluid  110  as represented by data from temperature sensor  120 , has increased to a temperature beyond the maximum allowed, that is to a value above the cooling curve  220  desirable temperature range of no more than 5° C. This is represented by the temperature line  200  intersecting, and then rising above, the cooling curve  220 . In one embodiment, a separate output may be generated to one or more destinations, including direct to a vat controller  150  or to an external controller resource  300 . The vat controller  150  may receive raw data from the sensors  120 , 122 , 130 , 135  and a separate data  20  may be generated by the controller  150  or a remote server  160  and sent to the external controller resource  300 . 
     Advantageously, the processor  10  is used to control the sensors and generate alerts. The evaluation ad action procedure followed by the processor monitor  10  is shown in  FIG. 3  in which the monitor  10 :
     A. receives information from the sensors  120 , 122 , 130 , 135 ;   B. determines time based properties such as temperature per time associated with the milking event in which new milk  112  is delivered to the vat  100 ;   C. determines an appropriate cooling curve  220  or portion thereof that is applicable to the instance or operation associated with the milking event, using the appropriate curve to determine time based properties such as the desired temperature per time;   D. compares the real data of B with the target data of C; and   E. generates an output in the form of an alert if step indicates the information of B falls outside the parameters of C.;   

     The processor  10  is, in the embodiment shown, located remotely and adapted to receive and control the monitoring of a plurality of like milking operations at various scattered dairy installations. The processor  10  may generate the output  16  which in turn leads to the activation of an indicator  18 . The indicator  18  is adapted to provide an audible or visual signal associated with the indicator  18  indicating that there is non-compliance in relation to one of the fluid property parameters. The indicator  18  may include a visual or audible indication of whether the properties of the bulk fluid  110  being monitored are within one of, or a plurality of, parameter standards, such as the cooling curve  220  for target temperature over time during delivery of first and second batch volumes V 1 ,V 2 . The parameter standards are advantageously stored on one or more of the processor devices  10 , 150 , 160 , 300 . 
     In the graph shown in  FIG. 2 , steep transitions such as that shown at lines C 1 ,C 2  (such as C 1  for the cooling curve  220 ) indicate stepped transitions. The theoretical curve would be a generally smooth curve. However, the stepped curve  220  reflects a real world curve of the desirable cooling parameters applicable to the present embodiment. This reflects the periodic sampling of the milk fluid  110  temperature as the temperature measurements are incrementally taken over time. 
     Milking times may vary. This has led the Applicant to develop milk cooling curves or cooling envelopes which provide a predetermined time-and-temperature requirement for freshly obtained milk from multiple batches obtained from separate milking events. The milk cooling curve is effectively the upper limit of acceptability of temperature of the collected milk at a time from start or completion of a milking event. 
     Keeping the fluid  110  in the vat  100  at temperatures below the predetermined time and temperature requirement indicated by the cooling curve  220  provides confidence for the dairy suppliers that the fluid  110  is safe for consumers. 
     There is also the added complication that milk transporters may pick up the fluid  110  contained in the vat  100  at different times taken from either the start of milking or at the end of the milking event. For example, a tanker  70  may take delivery of the fluid  110  within 3.5 hours from first milking (about 4 pm in  FIG. 2 ), or 2 hours from end of milking of the first batch V 1  (about 6 pm in  FIG. 2 ), which may be before it is cooled to the desired temperature corresponding to the cooling curve recommended temperature at the time on the time line. 
     Ensuring the predetermined time-and-temperature requirements have been applied to the collected fluid  110  allows the vat  100  to contain the milk  110 , 112  from multiple milkings V 1 ,V 2 , and to be transported prior to complete cooling, and still comply with standards. 
     To monitor temperatures of the fluid  110  in the vat  100 , devices such as the Smarta Industrial SF104 Vat monitor sold by the Applicant may be used as the controller  10 . This controller device  10  may be used to measure and communicate milk temperature, and to generate a response if parameters are exceeded and an alert is required. 
     The vat  100 , in the present embodiment, is located remotely from the monitor  10 , and data or information is communicated by any one or more of a number of suitable communication methods, including wired or wireless networks, such as mobile data networks, or satellite transmissions, and/or via the Internet. 
       FIG. 1  shows a connection via the internet  140  where a cloud-based solution is offered. The type of communication method chosen is dependent on the requirements of the dairy and milk processors, including the possibly remote and/or disparate dairies and the dairy processing and packaging installations, which may be more central or metro-located. The communication method may be two way. The communication method may allow information to be transmitted directly back to an individual vat controller  150  such as a Smarta sf104 sold by the Applicant. 
     The monitor  10  provides information back to the controller  150  to allow on-site monitoring of properties of the fluid  110  in the vat  100 . This may be useful if there are potential issues with the operation of the vat  100 . Problems may include the fluid  110  not being cooled sufficiently to comply with one or more desired time and temperature requirements. Another advantage is that the monitor  10  may be used to output the data to an external resource or entity  300 . This may include, for example, third parties such as milk producers, which may use the data to schedule deliveries, and log the data on the handling of the milk from collection to delivery. This better ensures integrity and safety of the product to consumers. 
     Therefore, the vat  100  can have data logged in relation to its content (eg. fluid  110 ), and that data may be made available to third parties such as logistics companies which may use information derived from the data to pick up the fluid  110  from the vat  100  and to deliver it to milk processors. The milk processors may use the data to confirm (or establish the opposite) that the milk complies with an applicable cooling curve standard. The standard may involve, for example, temperature and time data contained in the milk curves. The data provided by the monitor  10  may be used to record the temperature of the fluid  110  over time when it was in the vat  100 . 
     The monitor  10  may control the monitoring of more than the one vat  100  (additional vats  101  are represented in  FIG. 1  by dotted lines). Each additional vat  101  may have the same equipment, such as ports  102 , 104  and sensors  120 , 122 , 130 , 135  as the first vat  100 . In such a scenario, each vat or group of vats  101  is individually identified, with data stored in relation to each vat or group of vats  101  with alerts  18  and curves  220  for each individual or group of vats  101 . This will also be useful where an installation for extracting or obtaining the fluid  110 , eg. a dairy farm, has more than one vat  101 . 
     The temperature sensor  120  may include more than one temperature sensor, such that spaced sensors are located in different zones of the vat  100 , or the inlet  102  or the outlet  104 . The information from the temperature sensors  120 , 122 , and/or the flow rate sensor  135  and/or the fluid level sensor  130 , may be used to determine when the vat  100  is in use and when milking has commenced or completed. 
     For example, Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) guidelines for raw milk collection advise that milk should be cooled on farm to 5° C. within 3.5 hours from the start of milking. During milking, the temperature of the contents of the vat  100  will increase due to the milk being around 37 degrees when taken from animals. 
     As the new milk  112  flows to the vat  100 , the level sensor  130  will indicate an increase in volume of the fluid  110  in the vat  100 . The inflow of new of milk  112  will also result in an increase in the temperature of the fluid  110  in the vat  100 , which is detected by temperature sensor  120  and/or temperature sensor  122 . This is communicated to monitor  10 . 
     The monitor  10  can determine the time that milking has started using this information and match it to the applicable standard milk cooling curve to determine whether the milk is being subjected to a rate of cooling that is within the cooling curve parameters and is otherwise handled appropriately. The monitor  10  may be used to schedule a pick up of the milk for delivery to a producer, or a milk processing and packaging installation. The producer may be permitted and equipped to remotely access the data and information supplied by the monitor  10  to schedule a pick-up and delivery, whilst also confirming compliance with the applicable standard(s). The memory of the monitor  10  can store the data to provide a history of the milk fluid  110 , 112 . The producer may store the corresponding data for compliance and auditing purposes. 
     In comparison, European food standards for milk are based on the time that the milking is completed. The monitor  10  may use information from the fluid level sensor  130 , and optionally may also use information from either or both of the temperature sensor(s)  120 , 122 , or the flow rate sensor  135 , to determine the end of a milking session. When milking finishes, the volume no longer increases, but stays static (as measured by the fluid level sensor  130 ), flow ceases (as measured by the flow rate sensor  135 ), or the temperature drops at a characteristic rate in that the temperature of the milk starts to decline due to the cooling provided by the vat  100  (as measured by either or all of the temperature sensors  120 , 122 ). From this information sent to the monitor  10 , the monitor  10  can determine whether the milk fluid  110 , 112  is in compliance with the applicable standard, such as in Europe, in respect of which cooling is required based on the time milking is completed. Further, the monitor  10  may compare the data on the milk  110  in the vat  100  to determine whether it complies with both FSANZ and European standards. 
     The monitor  10  may store test criteria corresponding to one or more milk cooling curves (such as curve  220  or the FSANZ standard). The monitor  10  can store a number of cooling curves, including the FSANZ and European standards. The monitor  10  allows additional custom cooling curves to be input, installed or loaded or stored on the monitor  10 . The monitor  10  can compare the information from the sensors  120  or  130 , and/or additional sensors  122 , 135 , said information being logged either on the monitor  10  or separately, for example on a separate memory or storage device  12 , in data transfer communication with the monitor/processor  10  by either cable or wireless connection  14 . Information from sensors  120 ,  122 ,  130  and  135 , can be transmitted in real time to the monitor  10 , or can be stored and compared. The information may be released to an interested party upon request of, for example, a milk producer, processor or logistics company. 
     The vat controller  150  can have additional inputs. These include connections to other electrical equipment, such as computer processors which schedule milking time starts. The other electrical equipment may be activated during milking to provide additional information on milking time starts and/or completion. 
     The monitor  10  can utilise software run on the remote server  160  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The communication connection is a direct cable or wireless connection  162 , such as via a LAN modem, or may use an internet communication protocol  164  via the World Wide Web (www). The server  160  can run a number of other programs and have functions for input  20  and output  16  of data, and storage in the memory  12  of information from the sensors  120  or  130  or additional sensors, such as sensors  122 , 135 . The monitor  10  has access to memory  12  to store information from the sensors such as sensor  120 , 122 , 130  and  135 , and also has a processor to process information. 
     The monitor  10  can run one instance or operation for each vat  100 . However, it is capable of receiving data from a number of vats  101 , wherein said data from each vat  101  is managed, monitored, stored and reported separately. 
     The monitor  10  includes software that runs on dedicated hardware. The software can be designed to be specific to one vat  100  or to a group of vats  101 . In the example, all of the vats  101  are located at one dairy or installation. In this case, the monitor  10  is located at the installation and is responsible for communication with external entities, such as logistics companies, producers, managers or milk processors, via standard communications methods, such as the Internet, mobile communications network, wireless networks or landline telephone networks. 
     In another aspect of the invention,  FIG. 4  represents the activities and information flow in relation to the monitoring system and the tanker control system. The vat  100  control system described with reference to  FIGS. 1-3  is combined to accurately plan routes for at least one tanker  70 . This ensures that the bulk fluid  110  pickups are done in the most efficient manner to reduce the tanker&#39;s  70  mileage and transport time. It may also protect and guarantee that bulk fluid  110  quality complies with the standard. 
     The monitor  10  is shown in  FIG. 5 . The monitor  10  may be adapted for use as a controller  80  for use on a tanker vehicle  70  as shown in  FIG. 6 . It is preferred for quality assurance purposes that the monitor  80  is approved by the National Measurement Institute Australia (NMI) for use in vehicle-mounted milk metering applications. The monitor  10  is ideally designed to be retro-fitted to existing dairy installations with approval for use with all existing common flowmeters  135 . The device  10  should have a rugged build, preferably using stainless steel and marine grade alloy materials to ensure reliability, weather-resistance and durability. The monitor  10  shown has a 10 inch (250 mm) touch display screen  82  that allows ease of use, even in dim lighting conditions. 
     The batch volumes V 1 ,V 2 , are displayed on the screen and show an operator the breakdown of time that each batch V 1 ,V 2  spent at key temperature markers 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10 and 12.5° C. in terms of the percentage of total time in the vat  100 . The earlier batch V 1  had a longer time to cool in the vat  100  and therefore 
     With reference to  FIG. 7 , the monitor  10  performs a full functional self-check on initialization to ensure that all attached devices, including flow meters  135 , temperature sensors  120 , or valve controlling solenoids  13  are operating and within specifications. This ensures that the operator or tanker driver will not get to a pickup only to realize there is a fault in the system  1 , such as a faulty solenoid. 
     The monitor  10  allows a user to log in to the system  1  with a barcode  83  or RFID scan using a scanner  84 . By uploading data specific to the user and their corresponding installation(s) and/or vehicle, the scanning function  84  facilitates auto loading of a calculated and allocated route. This is uploaded from the monitor  10  to the server  160 . 
     The monitor  10  is coupled to the cloud-based platform loaded on the server  160  to provide a scalable solution that is accessible from any internet connected device. The platform is preferably hosted in a Virtual Private Cloud computing environment in a remote data center with separate geolocation of backups to ensure:
         security of data;   continuous system availability and reliability; and   simple web browser access to a cloud-based portal.       

     The solution provided by the system  1  of the invention means that end users are not required to own and maintain their own application servers, networks and connections.  FIGS. 6 and 7  show the monitor in the form of a controller  80  that is setup for the vehicle  70 . The controller  80  acts as a mounted milk meter application that operates in the system  1  comprising the following components:
         the functionality of the monitor  10  in the form of a multi controller-tanker monitor or processor  80 ;   a high volume pump  3 ;   an optional low volume pump  4 ;   an air eliminator device  5  in communication with a vent;   a flow meter  135 , (the specifications of which are detailed in the table provided in  FIG. 8  in which a variety of suitable milk flow meters by make and model are shown with regard to their flow rate and volume ranges of operation. The flow meter  135  can be used to estimate accurately the volume V in the vat or tank  100 );   a temperature sensor  120 ;   a product sampler  126 ; and   an output device  18  in the form of a docket and label printer  9 .       

     Referring to  FIGS. 5-7 , the multiple tank controller  80  is a fully integrated control unit specifically designed for use as a vehicle-mounted milk metering and monitoring application. The controller  80  is loaded with a dedicated SmartaTrans 1.x version of software available from the Applicant. 
     The monitor or controller  10 , 80  has the following features:
         full stainless steel and marine grade alloy sealed enclosure  86  designed with multiple mounting points for ease of installation on the vehicle  70 ;   10 inch (250 mm) display and touchscreen  82  that provides easy to read display and fully functional touchscreen menus and keyboards for easy use;   operator control buttons or knobs  90 , which may be in the form of 4 LED back-lit stainless steel buttons that perform to allow the user to select full normal pickup  91 , route  92 , delivery  93 , and CIP (Cleaned in Place)  94  operational functions;   RFID reader  84  for user/driver login/device access;   2 dimensional barcode reader  83  to read normal barcodes and QR codes to allow user access functions, settings autoload, route number/detail autoload, and/or factory specific number autoload. This may reduce the need for any manual entry of information into the monitor or controller  10 , 80  by the user and may eliminate manual data entry mistakes;   inbuilt 3G/4G modem  87  that allows the device to connect to the server  160  to get data including users, routes, suppliers, factories etc and upload route, pickups, CIP, and unload data;   inbuilt GPS unit  88  to allow the device to confirm a current pickup of, for example, batch volumes V 1 ,V 2 , by the supplier pre-loaded geo-location data and real-time tracking of devices and transport  70 ;   built to allow for multiple pumps  3 , 4 , multiple temp sensors  120 , 122 , multiple samplers  6 , control of up to  24  solenoids  8 , 126  and receive up to  12  digital and analogue inputs  20 ;   connects to docket printer  9  that prints full size 80 mm docket labels, including logos, barcodes and QR codes—and prints 60 mm labels with text, logos, barcodes, and QR codes;   programmed to allow for routes, pickups, CIP, factory numbers, multiple samples, sample flushing/cleaning, multiple vats, trans-ship function; and/or   programmed to enable calibration self-calculation with certified electronic sealing that allows setting up or calibration by an operator&#39;s appropriate selection of the LED buttons  90 .       

     The coupled monitoring and controller systems shown in  FIGS. 1 and 7  with reference to monitor  10  and controller  80  can combine to generate a dynamic route scheduling system  1  that secures timely tanker  70  pickups and unloading to ensure food safety standards are adhered to from milking to delivery to the producer or other end destination. As shown in the  FIG. 4  flow diagram, the monitor  10  interprets the sensor  120 , 122 , 130 , 135  data over time and communicates critical temperature T, level  111 , volume V information to the controller  80 , generating an alert or alarm  18  for an operator if required parameters are not met. The monitor  10  communicates to the server  160  the critical information T,  111 , V for the server to determine optimal tanker  70  route scheduling, the server  160  in turn communicating to the controller  80  of each tanker  70  the pickup and delivery information P, based on the critical status of the fluid  110  in each batch volume V in each tank or vat  100 . Throughout the specification and claims the word “comprise” and its derivatives are intended to have an inclusive rather than exclusive meaning unless the contrary is expressly stated or the context requires otherwise. That is, the word “comprise” and its derivatives will be taken to indicate the inclusion of not only the listed components, steps or features that it directly references, but also other components, steps or features not specifically listed, unless the contrary is expressly stated or the context requires otherwise. 
     In the present specification, terms such as “apparatus”, “means”, “device” and “member” may refer to singular or plural items and are terms intended to refer to a set of properties, functions or characteristics performed by one or more items or components having one or more parts. It is envisaged that where an “apparatus”, “means”, “device” or “member” or similar term is described as being a unitary object, then a functionally equivalent object having multiple components is considered to fall within the scope of the term, and similarly, where an “apparatus”, “assembly”, “means”, “device” or “member” is described as having multiple components, a functionally equivalent but unitary object is also considered to fall within the scope of the term, unless the contrary is expressly stated or the context requires otherwise. 
     Orientational terms used in the specification and claims such as vertical, horizontal, top, bottom, upper and lower are to be interpreted as relational and are based on the premise that the component, item, article, apparatus, device or instrument will usually be considered in a particular orientation, such as with the vat  100  upright. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations may be made to the methods of the invention described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.