US 12,063,907 B2
Milking system
Gerard Mostert, Maassluis (NL); Rik Steenbergen, Maassluis (NL); and Frans Emo Diderik Van Halsema, Maassluis (NL)
Assigned to LELY PATENT N.V., Maassluis (NL)
Appl. No. 16/467,701
Filed by LELY PATENT N.V., Maassluis (NL)
PCT Filed Nov. 27, 2017, PCT No. PCT/NL2017/050779
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 7, 2019,
PCT Pub. No. WO2018/111093, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 21, 2018.
Claims priority of application No. 2017995 (NL), filed on Dec. 14, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2020/0000055 A1, Jan. 2, 2020
Int. Cl. A01J 5/013 (2006.01); A01J 5/01 (2006.01); A01J 5/08 (2006.01)
CPC A01J 5/0135 (2013.01) [A01J 5/01 (2013.01); A01J 5/08 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A milking system for milking a dairy animal,
comprising:
a milking cup for obtaining milk; and
a measuring chamber which is in flow communication with the milking cup for at least temporarily containing the obtained milk, and having a sensor system arranged therein or thereon for measuring at least one property of the milk present in the measuring chamber,
wherein the sensor system comprises
at least three optical sensor devices, each configured to measure values of a property of the milk present in the measuring chamber, and
a sensor control unit for actuating the sensor system and for processing the measured values, wherein the sensor control unit is configured to repeatedly select one of the at least three optical sensor devices in a targeted manner, wherein at least two of the at least three optical sensor devices are identical,
wherein the sensor system is configured (1) to, using each of the at least three optical sensor devices when selected, measure a local value of the property of the milk at a location of the selected optical sensor device using the selected optical sensor device, and (2) to determine a value of the at least one property of the milk in the measuring chamber on a basis of the local values measured locally by the at least three optical sensor devices, the determined value of the at least one property of the milk being a property other than a height of the milk in the measuring chamber,
wherein the sensor system is further configured to determine a height of the milk in the measuring chamber depending on the local values measured by the at least three optical sensor devices and on heights of the at least three optical sensor devices in the measuring chamber, and
wherein the measuring chamber is rigidly connected to the milking cup.