Milking system and a method for preventing detachment of a teat cup from a teat during a milking process

摘要

A milking method and system for preventing detachment of a teat cup from a teat of an animal during a milking process where the milking system includes a milk line connected to the teat cup, a vacuum system that applies at least two different vacuum levels to the teat cup, a measuring device configured to measure the air flow in the milk line during the milking process, and a control unit (5) that receives information about measured air flow values and to determine if the teat cup is about to be detached from the teat by comparing the measured air flow values (qa) with an acceptable value (qa, Δqal/Δt), and when the measured air flow values are not acceptable, to control the vacuum system to apply a higher vacuum level to the teat cup than the present vacuum level.

主权项

1. A method for preventing detachment of a teat cup from a teat of an animal during a milking process performed by a milking system, wherein the milking system comprises a milk line (1b, 1c, 2) connected to the teat cup (1a) and to a milk meter (4) that measures air flow in the milk flow within the milk meter, a vacuum system that applies at least two different vacuum levels to the teat cup (1a), and a control unit (5) operatively connected to the milk meter and the vacuum system, the method comprising the steps of:
while milking the animal during the milking process, the milk meter (4) making plural air flow measurements (qa) by measuring the air flow in the milk flow flowing through the milk meter; the control unit receiving the air flow measurements (qa) and comparing each of the air flow measurements (qa) to an acceptable maximum air flow value(qa, Δqamax/Δt); and when the comparing step finds that a current air flow measurement (qa) being greater than the acceptable maximum air flow value (qa, Δqamax/Δt) indicates air leakage into the teat cup and that the teat cup has started to detach from the teat, the control unit controling the vacuum system to increase the vacuum at the teat cup from i) a present vacuum level to ii) a higher vacuum level.