System and method for controlling and monitoring the operation of an automatic milking system

• US 6,584,931 B1
• Filed: 03/01/2002
• Issued: 07/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Delavan Limited (Enpro Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delavan Limited (Enpro Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Käll, Lars, Eriksson, Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Golba, Tara M
• Application Number:
  US10/069,870
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 119/14.01, 119/14.02, 119/14.08, 119/14-4-, 704/258
• US Class Current: 119/14.02
• CPC Class Codes: A01J 5/0175 Attaching of clusters
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/12 Milking stations
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/00 Other apparatus for animal husbandry
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence

Abstract

A system and method for controlling and monitoring the operation of an automatic milking system (1), wherein a central processing unit (8) is arranged to receive signals from peripheral hardware units (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, R) and to process the signals for obtaining hardware status related information or milking animal status related information. An interface (9, 10, 11, 12, 13) is arranged for communication between the central processing unit and an operator. The interface includes a device for understanding and interpreting vocal instructions from an operator and translating them into machine understandable instructions. The central processing unit includes a device for controlling or regulating at least one of the peripheral hardware units, or to provide status related information in vocal form as a response to said vocal instructions.

Claims

1. A system for controlling and monitoring the operation of an automatic milking system (1), wherein milking animals are allowed to enter, in order to be milked, a milking area (2) at will, and wherein a central processing unit (8) is arranged to receive signals from peripheral hardware units (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, R) and to process the signals for obtaining hardware status related information or milking animal status related information, and wherein an interface (9, 10, 11, 12, 13) is arranged for communication between the central processing unit and an operator, wherein the interface (9, 10, 11, 12, 13) includes means for understanding and interpreting vocal instructions from the operator given by the operator directly inside a stable room including the milking area, and for translating said vocal instructions into machine understandable instructions, and the central processing unit (8) includes means for controlling or regulating at least one of said peripheral hardware units (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, R), or for providing status related information in vocal form as a response to said vocal instructions.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein the central processing unit (8) includes programming means for programming a memory with a set of vocal instructions from a specific operator in order to enhance interpretation.

3. System according to claim 1, wherein the interface (9, 10, 11, 12, 13) includes at least one stationary microphone (10).

4. System according to claim 1, wherein the interface (9, 10, 11, 12, 13) includes at least one operator-based microphone (14).

5. System according to claim 1, wherein the vocal instructions include any instruction of the group:

end milking sequence, remove milking robot (R) from animal, open gate (3, 4), close gate (3, 4), release animal, initiate washing (7) of equipment, provide production information for a specific animal, provide milking period information for a specific animal, provide information about animal presently being subjected to milking, provide specified hardware status information, provide function test information for specified piece of equipment.

6. System according to claim 1, wherein the interface (9, 10, 11, 12, 13) is also arranged to recognise animal sounds, so that a certain predetermined sound level will result in terminating at least one action, including moving a device, opening a gate (3,4), and releasing an animal.

7. System according to claim 1, wherein the hardware units (3,4,5,6,7,R) include a milking robot (R), milking area entry and exit gates (3,4), milk flow measuring means, washing means (7) and means for controlling milk quality.

15. An automatic milking system including a system for controlling and monitoring according to claim 1.

8. A method for controlling and monitoring the operation of an automatic milking system (1), comprising:

allowing milking animals to enter a milking area (2) and to be milked, at will, wherein, and wherein a central processing unit (8) receives signals from peripheral hardware units (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, R), and processes the signals for obtaining hardware status related information or milking animal status related information, and wherein an operator communicates with the central processing unit (8) over an interface (9, 10, 11, 12, 13), vocal instructions from the operator given by the operator directly inside a stable room including the milking area, are received and translated into machine understandable instructions, and the central processing unit (8) controls or regulates at least one of said peripheral hardware units (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, R), or provides status related information in vocal form as a response to said vocal instructions.

9. Method according to claim 8, wherein a memory in the central processing unit (8) is programmed with a set of vocal instructions from a specific operator in order to enhance interpretation.

10. Method according to claim 8, wherein the operator communicates with the interface (9,10,11,12,13) over at least one stationary microphone (10).

11. Method according to claim 8, wherein the operator communicates with the interface (9, 10, 11, 12, 13) over at least one operator-based microphone (14).

12. Method according to claim 8, wherein the vocal instructions are selected to be any instruction of the group:

end milking sequence, remove milking robot (R) from animal, open gate (3, 4), close gate (3, 4), release animal, initiate washing (7) of equipment, provide production information for a specific animal, provide milking period information for a specific animal, provide information about animal presently being subjected to milking, provide specified hardware status information, provide function test information for specified piece of equipment.

13. Method according to claim 8, wherein the interface (9, 10, 11, 12, 13) also recognises animal sounds, so that a certain predetermined sound level will result in terminating at least one action, including moving a device, opening a gate (3,4), and releasing an animal.

14. Method according to claim 8, wherein the hardware units (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, R) are selected to be any of the group:

a milking robot (R), milking area entry and exit gates (3, 4), milk flow measuring means, washing means (7) and means for controlling milk quality.