Milk metering and cow ID system
First Claim
1. A system to be used in a milking parlor having a plurality of stalls wherein the system monitors milk production and identifies each of a plurality of animals being milked, the system comprising:
- a plurality of milk metering subsystems, wherein each of the plurality of milk metering subsystems is assigned to one of the plurality of stalls such that there is a one to one correspondence between each of the plurality of milk metering subsystems and each of the plurality of stalls;
a host computer wherein the host computer manages the flow of data throughout the system and further wherein the host computer manages the milk metering subsystems;
at least one antenna in electrical communication with the host computer and further disposed to receive animal identification data corresponding to each of the plurality of animals; and
a system interface between the host computer and each milk metering subsystem.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for use in a milking parlor having a plurality of stalls is disclosed. The system both monitors milk production and identifies each of a plurality of animals being milked. The system includes a plurality of milk metering subsystems for each of which is assigned to one of a plurality of stalls. The milk metering subsystem senses the temperature of milk and/or wash flowing through the milk metering subsystem. A host computer manages both the flow of data throughout the system and the operation of the milk metering subsystems by way of a remotely located system interface between the computer and each of the milk metering subsystems. An RS-485 connection between each of the plurality of milk metering subsystems and system interface is included. The system also includes at least one antenna which receives animal identification data for each of the animals being milked and electrically communicates that identification data the host computer. The system further includes a plurality of transponders one located on an ear of each monitored animals, and a receiver for each stall. Milk production data is automatically transferred to the host computer after the expiration of a time period following a triggering event, at the end of a shift, or on demand.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. A system to be used in a milking parlor having a plurality of stalls wherein the system monitors milk production and identifies each of a plurality of animals being milked, the system comprising:
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a plurality of milk metering subsystems, wherein each of the plurality of milk metering subsystems is assigned to one of the plurality of stalls such that there is a one to one correspondence between each of the plurality of milk metering subsystems and each of the plurality of stalls; a host computer wherein the host computer manages the flow of data throughout the system and further wherein the host computer manages the milk metering subsystems; at least one antenna in electrical communication with the host computer and further disposed to receive animal identification data corresponding to each of the plurality of animals; and a system interface between the host computer and each milk metering subsystem. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A system to be used in a milking parlor having a plurality of stalls wherein the system monitors milk production and identifies each of a plurality of animals being milked, the system comprising:
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a plurality of milk metering subsystem means for monitoring milk production, wherein each of the plurality of milk metering subsystem means is assigned to one of the plurality of stalls such that there is a one to one correspondence between each of the plurality of milk metering subsystem means and each of the plurality of stalls; a host computer means for managing the flow of data throughout the system and for managing the milk metering subsystem means; at least one antenna means in electrical communication with the host computer means for receiving animal identification data corresponding to each of the plurality of animals; and a system interface means for interfacing between the host computer means and each milk metering subsystem means. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification