Method and apparatus for operating a rotary milking platform to maximise the number of animals milked per unit time and a rotary milking platform
US11758876B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 29, 2019 |
| Grant date | Sep 19, 2023 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 23, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA01J5/007
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus (3) for operating a rotary milking platform (1) to maximise the number of animals milked per unit time. The milking platform (1) is rotated about a central vertical axis (4) by a variable speed motor (6), and comprises a plurality of animal accommodating locations (5) for the animals being milked. An entry position (7) and an exit position (9) accommodate animals to and from the platform (1). A position sensor (10) monitors the angular position of the platform (1). An RFID sensor (12) reads the identity of animals entering the platform (1). Historical data relating to milking time per milking session and the milk yield per animal per session is stored in an electronic memory (17). A microprocessor (15) reads signals from flow meters (14) which monitor the milk flow from milking clusters of each animal accommodating location (5). The microprocessor (15) is configured as each animal enters the platform (1) to compute an optimum angular velocity for the platform (1) in order to maximise the number of animals milked per unit time. The optimum angular velocity is computed as a function of the historical data of each animal on the platform (1), and the current milk…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.