JP3798383B2 - Data communication method and milking unit automatic detachment device in milking management system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention transmits milking data such as cow bed ID and milk amount to a barn management computer in a vacuum piping type milking machine that performs milking by connecting a milking unit to predetermined positions of a milk transport system and a vacuum supply system. The present invention relates to a method and a device for automatically removing a milking unit used therefor.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a vacuum piping type milking machine, a pair of pipelines consisting of a vacuum supply pipe and a milk transport pipe are installed in a cowshed, and when milking, a milking unit including a teat cup, milk claw, pulsator, etc. is guided. A rail or the like is used to move to a predetermined position, and a part thereof is attached to a milk tap provided at a predetermined position of the vacuum line to perform milking.
[0003]
It is also known that an automatic detaching device is provided in the milking unit, the end of lactation is determined from a change in milk flow rate, etc., milking is automatically stopped, and the milk claw is raised. For example, the automatic detaching device is hung on a vacuum supply pipe provided at the top of the cow bed, and when vacuum pressure is supplied from a control unit provided integrally or separately, the rope connected to the milk claw is pulled up, And prevent teat cups from falling to the floor and becoming dirty. In such a milking unit, since it has a function of storing data such as milk yield and milking time in the control unit and displaying it as necessary, it can be used for barn management by appropriately recording this display. it can.
[0004]
The invention of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-45898 is a milking management system in a Stanchon cowshed. A storage unit for storing the floor ID in association with milk yield data and the like is provided, and further using a portable transmission / reception unit that can communicate with both the control unit and the management computer, the data stored in the storage unit is collected and stored in the barn management device. A method for managing milking data to be transferred is proposed. The present invention also provides a method for discriminating the left and right cow beds according to the hanging position of the automatic detaching device when a milk tap is provided in the middle of two cow beds and milking of two cows is performed with one milk tap. is suggesting. These methods can reliably collect milking data on a computer installed outside the barn without manually filling in the management form.
[0005]
[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]
In the above milking management system, although errors due to human error can be prevented, the operator needs to carry a transmission / reception unit, read milking data accumulated on the milking unit side at the end of milking, and transfer it to the management computer, etc. There is a problem that it takes a lot of time and the number of devices increases. Further, increasing the directivity of the infrared communication device is inconvenient for the work, while reducing the directivity causes a problem of interference between other adjacent devices.
[0006]
Further, in the above milking management system, since the milking data is received at the end of milking, the data generated so far needs to be accumulated on the milking unit side, which is a factor that increases the capacity of the storage unit. It was.
[0007]
The first object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems in the conventional milking management method, to reliably collect milking data from a milking unit to a management computer installed outside the barn, and for the labor of the operator. It is to provide a milking data transmission method that does not increase the amount of milk and a milking unit automatic detachment device used therefor.
[0008]
The second object of the present invention is to provide a milking data transmission method that can reduce the capacity of the storage unit of the milking unit and make the configuration of the device simple and inexpensive, and an automatic detaching device for the milking unit used therefor. is there.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the milking management system of the Stanchon barn, the suspended portion of the milking unit can be swingably attached to the suspended portion corresponding to each cow bed, and An infrared light emitting unit facing the swing center is placed near the swing center of the suspended part on the suspension side, and the control unit of the milking unit transmits milking data such as milk amount to the suspension part The above problem is solved by a data communication method characterized by the above.
[0010]
In the present invention, even if the milking unit moves following the movement of the cow, infrared light is always emitted toward the rocking center line, and the light receiving unit arranged on the rocking line on the suspension side receives the infrared light. Since it continues, a communication path is always ensured until the suspended lower part is removed, and milking data and the like can be smoothly transmitted without using an independent transmission / reception unit or the like.
[0011]
Inventions of claims 2 and 3 of the present application are methods for managing the identification number of a cow bed in association with milking data in the invention of claim 1. The inventions according to claims 4 and 5 are provided with a suspended portion on the equipment around the cow bed.
[0012]
The invention according to claim 6 of the present application is an automatic detaching device for a milking unit used in a milking management system of a stunch barn, and at least the detaching rope pulling means and the device can be swingably attached to the suspended portion. It has an attachment means and an infrared light emitting part arranged toward its swing center.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0014]
FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an apparatus of a milking management system according to the present invention. A number of cow beds Aa, Ab... Are provided in the Stanchon barn H, and cows Ca, Cb... Are moored to the respective cow beds Aa, Ab, and a vacuum pipe V and a milk pipe M are crossed above the cow bed. Is arranged. In the present invention, the support pipe S is disposed at a position suitable for suspending the milking unit. FIG. 2 is a view of the cow bed Aa portion of FIG. 1 seen from the side, and shows the mutual positional relationship between the dairy cow Ba, the vacuum pipe V, the milk pipe M, and the support pipe S.
[0015]
A milk tap 10 is provided in the middle of the cow beds Aa and Ab to provide vacuum pressure and a milk conveying line to these two cow beds. The milk tap 10 has a connection port communicating with the vacuum pipe V and the milk pipe M, respectively, as shown in FIG. 3, and a connection structure capable of engaging and disengaging the milk inlet 6, and a milking unit is attached by attaching the milk inlet 6 at the start of milking. The vacuum tube v and the vacuum pipe V are connected to the milking tube m and the milk pipe M of the milking unit, respectively. In addition, on the support pipe S, on the left and right sides of the milk pipe M, there are provided suspension parts 12 for suspending hangers 502 of the automatic detachment device 5 described later corresponding to the cow beds Aa and Ab, respectively. The milk claw or the like is arranged at an appropriate position when the is hung. The hanging portion 12 includes a control unit 121 that can communicate with a management computer (not shown) provided outside the barn via wiring in the support pipe S, for example. An infrared light receiving unit 122 that is positioned downward on a swinging center line of the automatic detaching device 5 to be described later and that can communicate with the infrared light emitting unit 503 of the automatic detaching device 5 is provided below the hanging portion 12. In the present embodiment, an infrared light emitting unit 123 corresponding to the infrared light receiving unit 504 of the automatic detachment device 5 and an identification number registration unit 124 for registering the identification number of the cow bed are further provided. The infrared light receiving unit 122 and the light emitting unit 123 are controlled by the control unit 121.
[0016]
In this embodiment, the suspended portion 12 is provided on the independent support pipe S, but may be provided on the milk pipe M or at an appropriate position of an automatic transfer device (not shown) for transferring the milking unit. In any case, the milking unit may be in an appropriate position.
[0017]
The milking unit 1 of the present embodiment corresponds to a so-called two-system vacuum milking system, and as shown in FIG. 1, a milk claw 3, four teat cups 4, 4, and an automatic detaching device 5. And a milk inlet 6, a milk tube m, a vacuum tube v, and a release rope that interconnect these components. In the present embodiment, the automatic control unit and the pulsator are integrally provided inside the automatic detaching device 5 and have an easy structure for transportation and the like, and this automatic detaching device 5 is covered by the milking unit of this embodiment. Constructs a hanging part.
[0018]
FIG. 4 is a front view of the automatic detaching device 5 in a state of being hung by the hanging portion 12. A metal hanger 502 whose tip is bent in a U-shape is provided on the upper portion of the main body 501 as a means for attaching to the suspended portion, and the whole milking unit is milked by hooking the bent portion of the hanger 502 on the suspended portion 12. Can be hung at a convenient position. In addition, an infrared light emitting unit 503 is provided at a position facing the infrared light receiving unit 122 of the suspended portion 12 in the upper part of the main body 501. The front surface of the main body 501 is provided with a display unit 505 for displaying the state of the apparatus, milk amount, milking time, and the like, an operation unit 506 for instructing milking start, mode change, and the like. A grip 507 for projecting the apparatus with one hand is provided inside. A release rope 508 hangs down from the lower end (not shown) of the grip 507, and a snap lock 509 that can be locked to the locking portion 301 of the milk claw 3 is bound at the tip thereof. The upper end of the detaching rope 508 is connected to a pulling means (not shown) housed in the grip 507.
[0019]
FIG. 5 shows a connection structure on the back surface of the automatic detachment device 5. Both ends of the inverted U-shaped milk tube m terminal 510 communicate with the milk discharge ports of the milk claw 3 and the milk inlet 6 through the milk tube m, respectively. The milk flow rate sensor 511 is provided at a location slightly lowering from the upper end of the milk tube terminal 510 to the milk inlet side in order to reduce measurement error due to the return of milk, and measures the amount of milk present in the milk tube m to obtain data. Is output to the control unit in the automatic detachment device 5. From the lower part of the main body 501, a vacuum tube v for supplying a vacuum pressure to the internal pulsator extends in parallel with the milk tube m on the milk inlet side, and is connected to the milk inlet 6 together. The vacuum pressure for milking and the atmospheric pressure are alternately supplied from the internal pulsator to the connection port 512 on the back surface of the main body 501, and the vacuum pressure for adjusting the pressure is supplied to the connection ports 513 and 514, respectively. It is connected to a predetermined part of the milk claw 3 via
[0020]
FIG. 6 shows a side view of the suspended portion and the automatic detaching device 5 when the automatic detaching device 5 swings forward. In the case of the present embodiment, the bent portion of the hanger 502 and the upper surface of the suspended portion 12 of the support pipe S form an arc shape having substantially the same diameter, so that the center of oscillation is always near the center axis of the support pipe S. The infrared light receiving unit 122 is provided at the center portion of the support pipe S by cutting away the lower side, and the infrared light emitting unit 503 on the upper surface of the main body 501 is always connected to the infrared light receiving unit 122 even when the automatic detachment device 5 swings. It comes to oppose. (The shaded area indicates the range of directivity of the light emitting section 503.) Therefore, the infrared communication is prevented from being interrupted even if the automatic separation device 5 swings during milking. In the present embodiment, an infrared light receiving unit 504 is further provided on the upper surface of the main body 501 of the automatic detaching device 5, and an infrared light emitting unit 123 is further provided on the suspended portion 12.
[0021]
Next, the attachment procedure when milking using the milking unit 1 of a present Example is demonstrated. First, the milking unit 1 is suspended from the support pipe S, and the milk claw 3 and the teat cups 4, 4... Are lifted by the pulling means in the automatic detaching device 5 together with the detaching rope 508. An operator has the grip 505 of the automatic detaching device 5, and if there is an automatic conveying device, moves the milking unit 1 to the cow beds Aa and Ab where milking is performed and moves the hanger 502 of the automatic detaching device 5. The support pipe S is hung on the hanging portion 12 on the side corresponding to the cow bed Aa. At this time, the infrared ray receiving unit 122 automatically detects the infrared ray emitted from the infrared ray emitting unit 503 of the automatic detachment device 5 and communication is started.
[0022]
First, the control unit 121 of the hanging unit 12 reads the cow bed identification number registered in the identification number registration unit 124 and transmits it by the infrared light emitting unit 123. The control unit of the automatic detachment device 5 receives and stores this by the infrared light receiving unit 504 and displays necessary information on the display unit 505. The operator connects the milk inlet 6 to the milk tap located between the cow beds Aa and Ab, operates the operation unit 506 of the automatic detaching device 5 to make the detachable rope 508 detachable, and pulls out the teat cup 4 , 4... Are attached to the nipple of cow Ca and milking is started. During milking, the control unit 500 monitors the output of the milk flow sensor 511, judges the end of milking from the flow rate data and the milking time, automatically cuts the milking vacuum pressures of 510, 512, and 513, and uses the lifting means. Driven to wind up the detaching rope 508 and pull up the milk claw 3 and the teat cup unit. Further, milking can be interrupted at any time by operating the operation unit 506. During this time, the display unit 505 displays data such as milking time and milk yield.
[0023]
The control unit 500 of the automatic detachment apparatus 5 also transmits milking data such as milking time and milk volume to the hanging part 12 in association with the identification number of the cow bed by the infrared light emitting unit 503 at an appropriate timing. It is preferable to transmit milk amount data and the like as needed and store it in the barn management computer, because processing such as changes in milk amount over time can be performed even if the storage capacity of the milking unit is small. When the milking is finished, the suspension is notified to the suspended portion side, and the line is automatically disconnected.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
In the data communication method and the automatic milking unit removal apparatus of the present invention, the milking data can be collected at any time from the milking unit to the management computer installed outside the barn without the operator carrying a special transmission / reception unit or the like. As a result, data collection can be ensured and labor of the operator can be reduced. Since this transmission / reception can always be performed, the storage unit on the milking unit side can be made small, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
[0025]
In the automatic detachment device of the milking unit of the present invention, it is easy to attach to the suspended portion, but since the directivity of the infrared communication device can be strengthened, there is no interference even if a plurality of suspended portions are provided adjacent to each other, Data for each cow bed can be collected reliably. Also, the labor of the operator can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the vicinity of a cow bed of a milking management system.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the cow bed portion of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a connection between a milk tap and a milk inlet.
FIG. 4 is a front view of the automatic detachment device in a suspended state.
FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the automatic detaching device.
FIG. 6 is a side view of the hanging portion and the automatic detachment device when the automatic detachment device swings backward.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an electronic circuit.
[Explanation of symbols]
H stanchon barn A cow bed C cow M milk pipe V vacuum pipe 1 milking unit 3 milk claw 4 teat cup 5 automatic detaching device 6 milk inlet 10 milk tap 12 hanging part 121 control part 122 infrared light receiving part 123 infrared light emitting part 500 control 501 Main unit 502 Hanger 503 Infrared light emitting unit 504 Infrared light receiving unit

Claims (6)

In the milking management system of the Stanchon barn, the suspended part of the milking unit can be pivotably attached to the suspended part corresponding to each cow bed, and the infrared light emitting part facing the swinging center on the suspended part side, A data communication method, wherein an infrared light receiving unit is disposed in the vicinity of a swing center of a suspended part on a suspended part side, and a control unit of the milking unit transmits milking data such as milk amount to the suspended part. 2. The data communication method according to claim 1, wherein the suspended portion includes a cow bed identification number registration unit. An infrared light receiving unit facing the swinging center on the suspended lower side and an infrared light emitting unit in the vicinity of the swinging center of the suspended lower part on the suspended lower side are further arranged, and the suspended lower part uses the identification number as a control unit of the milking unit. 3. The data communication method according to claim 2, wherein the milking unit transmits the milking data to the suspended portion in association with the identification number. 4. The data communication method according to claim 1, wherein the suspended portion is provided on a milk pipe. 4. The data communication method according to claim 1, wherein the milking management system has an automatic conveying device for a milking unit, and the suspended portion is provided on the automatic conveying device. Stanchon barn characterized by having at least pulling-up means for the detaching rope, mounting means for swingably mounting the device to the suspended portion, and an infrared light emitting portion arranged toward the swing center. Automatic removal device for milking unit used for milking management system.

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