A METHOD AND A DEVICE FOR DETERMINING THE MASS FLOW RATE AND THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF A LIQUID FLOWING IN A PIPE
    1.
    发明申请
    A METHOD AND A DEVICE FOR DETERMINING THE MASS FLOW RATE AND THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF A LIQUID FLOWING IN A PIPE 审中-公开
    用于确定质量流量的方法和装置以及液体流在管中的存在或不存在

    公开(公告)号:US20160223376A1

    公开(公告)日:2016-08-04

    申请号:US15023147

    申请日:2014-09-19

    申请人: DAIRYMASTER

    IPC分类号: G01F1/76 G01F1/66

    摘要: A device (1) for determining the mass flow rate of milk turbulently flowing with air in a pipe (2) in pulsed milk slugs comprises sampling a signal from a microphone (8) of the device (1) indicative of sonic signals produced by the milk flow. The sampled signals are read by a microprocessor (15) which applies a Fast Fourier Transform to the sampled signal to produce the frequency domain of the sampled signal. The microprocessor (15) is configured to compute the average energy value of the sampled signal in the frequency bandwidth of 6 kHz to 15 kHz during consecutive monitoring periods. The average energy values are inserted into a calibration equation, which may be a power law equation, a polynomial equation, a logarithmic equation or any other such suitable equation in order to convert the average energy value to a mass flow rate of the milk flowing through the pipe 2 during that predefined monitoring period. The total mass flow of milk flowing through the pipeline (2) during a period from T1 to T2 is determined by integrating the determined mass flow rate of the milk from the time T1 to the time T2. Disengagement of a milking cluster from the teats of an animal as a result of kick-off during milking is also determined when the monitored signal from the microphone (8) transitions from the signal indicative of milk flowing in pulsed slugs to a continuous relatively high energy noise signal indicative of air being continuously drawn through the pipeline.

    摘要翻译: 用于确定在脉冲乳块中管道(2)中与空气紊乱流动的牛奶的质量流量的装置(1)包括对来自装置(1)的麦克风(8)的信号进行采样,指示由 牛奶流。 采样信号由微处理器(15)读取,微处理器(15)对采样信号进行快速傅里叶变换,以产生采样信号的频域。 微处理器(15)被配置为在连续的监视周期期间计算6kHz至15kHz的频率带宽中的采样信号的平均能量值。 将平均能量值插入到校准方程式中,其可以是幂律方程式,多项式方程式,对数方程式或任何其他这样的适当方程,以将平均能量值转换为流过牛奶的质量流量 管道2在该预定义的监视期间。 在T1到T2期间流经管道(2)的牛奶的总质量流量是通过将所确定的时间T1的质量流量与时间T2进行积分来确定的。 当来自麦克风(8)的监测信号从表示在脉冲絮片中流动的牛奶的信号转变为连续相对较高的能量时,还确定了挤奶期间由于启动而导致的来自动物乳头的挤奶群的脱落 指示空气连续地通过管道的噪声信号。

    METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING A ROTARY MILKING PLATFORM TO MAXIMISE THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS MILKED PER UNIT TIME AND A ROTARY MILKING PLATFORM

    公开(公告)号:US20210307286A1

    公开(公告)日:2021-10-07

    申请号:US17263015

    申请日:2019-07-29

    申请人: DAIRYMASTER

    IPC分类号: A01J5/01 A01K1/12

    摘要: 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 yield of each animal on the milking platform (1) determined from the flow meter (14).

    A DATA COLLECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COLLECTING DATA RELATING TO THE BEHAVIOUR OF AN ANIMAL

    公开(公告)号:US20200093100A1

    公开(公告)日:2020-03-26

    申请号:US16604799

    申请日:2018-04-13

    申请人: DAIRYMASTER

    摘要: A data collection system (1) for monitoring the behaviour and states of a plurality of animals (2) comprises providing the animals (2) with respective monitoring devices (4) for monitoring the behaviour and states of the animals (2). A drone (7) comprising a mobile data collection device (5) secured thereto is configured to fly past the animals (2) at predefined data collection time intervals, typically of six hourly intervals. Each mobile data collection device (5) comprises a first secondary communications module (15) for wirelessly communicating with a second secondary communications module (32) located in the respective monitoring devices (4) for uploading data indicative of the behaviour and states of the animals (2) to a microcontroller (8) in the mobile data collection device (5). The uploaded data indicative of the behaviour and states of the respective animals (2) is written to and stored in a primary memory (17) of the mobile data collection device (5). A primary communications module (10) in the mobile data collection device (5) transmits the stored data indicative of the behaviour and states of the respective animals (2) which is stored in the primary memory (17) wirelessly to a central server (12). In an alternative embodiment of the invention the mobile data collection device (5) is mounted on one of the animals (2). In a further alternative embodiment of the invention the monitoring devices (4) are omitted from the animals, and the mobile data collection device is provided with a video camera for capturing images and video clips of the respective animals, and data from the video camera is analysed for identifying the animals and the behaviour and states of the respective animals.

    METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING A ROTARY MILKING PLATFORM TO MAXIMISE THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS MILKED PER UNIT TIME AND A ROTARY MILKING PLATFORM

    公开(公告)号:US20230371463A1

    公开(公告)日:2023-11-23

    申请号:US18363264

    申请日:2023-08-01

    申请人: Dairymaster

    IPC分类号: A01J5/01 A01K1/12

    CPC分类号: A01J5/01 A01K1/126

    摘要: 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 yield of each animal on the milking platform (1) determined from the flow meter (14).

    A METHOD, A DEVICE AND A SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING A STATE OF AN ANIMAL
    6.
    发明申请
    A METHOD, A DEVICE AND A SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING A STATE OF AN ANIMAL 审中-公开
    用于确定动物状态的方法,装置和系统

    公开(公告)号:US20160135433A1

    公开(公告)日:2016-05-19

    申请号:US14897483

    申请日:2014-06-16

    申请人: DAIRYMASTER

    摘要: A device (5) attached to the neck (6) of an animal (2) comprises an accelerometer (17) which produces first and second signals indicative of the raised and lowered state of the head (7) of the animal (2) and movement of the animal (2). A microprocessor (20) in the device (5) processes the first and second signals to determine if the animal is ruminating, resting, feeding or in a highly active state during respective second predefined time periods of approximately 15 minutes duration. Data indicative of the ruminating, resting, feeding and the highly active state of the animal is stored by the microprocessor (20) in the device (5) and is periodically wirelessly communicated to a base station computer which further processes the data to determine various health states of the animal.

    摘要翻译: 附接到动物(2)的颈部(6)的装置(5)包括加速度计(17),其产生指示动物(2)的头部(7)的升高和降低状态的第一和第二信号,以及 动物运动(2)。 装置(5)中的微处理器(20)处理第一和第二信号以确定动物是否在大约15分钟的持续时间的相应的第二预定时间段期间反刍,休息,进食或处于高度活跃状态。 指示动物的反刍,休息,进食和高度活跃状态的数据由微处理器(20)存储在设备(5)中,并且周期性地无线地传送到基站计算机,基站计算机进一步处理数据以确定各种健康 动物的状态

    A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING THE IDENTITY OF AN ANIMAL OF A HERD OF ANIMALS

    公开(公告)号:US20220284725A1

    公开(公告)日:2022-09-08

    申请号:US17636462

    申请日:2020-08-21

    申请人: DAIRYMASTER

    摘要: A rotary milking platform (3) comprises a plurality of stalls (5) and an RFID animal identifying system (9) for identifying animals entering the stalls (5) of the platform (3). A microprocessor (14) reads signals from an image capturing device (15) and computes a feature vector from the captured image of each animal. A plurality of reference feature vectors comprising respective matrices of metrics already derived from images of the respective animals captured by the image capturing device (15) are stored and cross-referenced with the identity of the respective animals. The microprocessor (14) compares computed feature vectors of each animal with the stored reference feature vectors until a best match has been determined with one of the reference feature vectors. The identity of the animal of that matching reference feature vector is then determined as the identity of the animal of that computed feature vector. The determined identity of the animal in the relevant stall (5) is compared with the identity of the animal determined for that stall (5) by the RFID system (9). On a favourable comparison the identity of the animal determined from the captured image of that animal is confirmed as the identity of the animal. In the event of a conflict between the two identities being determined, a conflict alert signal is produced.

    A SUPPORT ELEMENT AND A METHOD FOR SUPPORTING AN ELONGATED BEAM, AND A ROTARY PLATFORM

    公开(公告)号:US20200267931A1

    公开(公告)日:2020-08-27

    申请号:US16646376

    申请日:2018-09-12

    申请人: DAIRYMASTER

    IPC分类号: A01K1/12 F16B9/00

    摘要: A rotary milking platform (1) comprises a platform (3) having a circular carrier beam (7) secured to the underside of the platform (3). The carrier beam (7) is supported on a plurality of support elements (10), each of which comprise a freely rotatable roller (35) which is configured to rollably engage an under surface (38) of the carrier beam (7). Each support element (10) comprises an anchor plate (27) adjustably mounted on a corresponding ground engaging element (20) which is secured to the ground. A carrier plate (40) is carried on four guide bolts (50) extending upwardly from the anchor plate (27). Side members (41) extending downwardly from the carrier plate (40) rotatably carry the roller (35). Compression springs (59) acting between abutment washers (55) secured to the guide bolts (50) and the carrier plate (40) urge the carrier plate (40) against heads (53) of the guide bolts (50). The compression springs (59) accommodate downward and upward movement of the roller (35) in order to accommodate rising and falling of the under surface (38) of the beam (7). The compression springs (59) permit tilting movement of the roller (35) about a tilt axis (61) which extends in the direction of motion of the beam (7) in order to facilitate tilting of the roller (35) to follow any non-horizontality of the under surface (38) of the beam (7). The tilt axis is located just below a line of contact (67) of the roller (35) with the under surface (38) of the beam (7) to minimise lateral movement of the roller relative to the beam (7) as the roller (35) tilts about the tilt axis.

    A METHOD, A DEVICE AND A SYSTEM FOR DETECTING A STATE OF AN ANIMAL
    9.
    发明申请
    A METHOD, A DEVICE AND A SYSTEM FOR DETECTING A STATE OF AN ANIMAL 审中-公开
    用于检测动物状态的方法,装置和系统

    公开(公告)号:US20160165851A1

    公开(公告)日:2016-06-16

    申请号:US14897496

    申请日:2014-06-16

    申请人: DAIRYMASTER

    IPC分类号: A01K29/00 A61B5/00 A61B5/11

    摘要: A device (5) attached to the neck (6) of an animal (2) comprises an accelerometer (28) which produces first and second signals indicative of movement of the animal (2) and the raised and lowered states of the head of the animal. A microprocessor (30) in the device (5) processes the first and second signals to detect ruminating, resting, feeding and three activity states of the animal during respective second predefined time periods of approximately 15 minutes duration. Data indicative of the states of the animal is stored by the microprocessor (30) in the device (5) and periodically transmitted to a cloud computer server which further processes the data to determine various health states and other issues of the animal.

    摘要翻译: 附接到动物(2)的颈部(6)的装置(5)包括加速度计(28),其产生指示动物(2)的运动的第一和第二信号以及所述动物(2)的头部的升高和降低的状态 动物。 装置(5)中的微处理器(30)处理第一和第二信号以在大约15分钟持续时间的相应的第二预定时间段期间检测动物的反刍,休息,进食和三种活动状态。 指示动物状态的数据由微处理器(30)存储在设备(5)中,并周期地发送到云计算机服务器,该云计算机服务器进一步处理数据以确定动物的各种健康状态和其他问题。

    A METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING WITH AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE LOCATABLE ON OR IN AN ANIMAL
    10.
    发明申请
    A METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING WITH AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE LOCATABLE ON OR IN AN ANIMAL 有权
    用于与电子设备通信的方法和位于动物上的动物的电子设备

    公开(公告)号:US20160135426A1

    公开(公告)日:2016-05-19

    申请号:US14897421

    申请日:2014-06-16

    申请人: DAIRYMASTER

    IPC分类号: A01K11/00 A01K29/00

    摘要: An electronic monitoring device (20) for attaching to an animal (21) for determining a plurality of states of an animal (21). The monitoring device (20) comprises an NFC module (31) which facilitates wireless communication between a smart phone (32) and the monitoring device (20). The monitoring device (20) comprises an accelerometer (27) for monitoring acceleration of the head (25) of the animal (21). A microprocessor (28) determines various states of the animal from signals received from the accelerometer (27). The smart phone (32) is programmed by a software application which allows an identifying code of the monitoring device (20) to be read from the memory chip (36) and cross-referenced in the smart phone (32) with the identity of an animal, which can be inputted into the smart phone (32). Data relating to the state or states of the animal can be read from the microprocessor (28) through the NFC module (31) wirelessly into the smart phone (32). Additionally, data relating to the animal stored in a cloud computer server corresponding to the state or states of the animal is downloaded from the cloud computer server by the smart phone (32).

    摘要翻译: 一种用于附着到用于确定动物(21)的多个状态的动物(21)的电子监视装置(20)。 监视设备(20)包括便于智能电话(32)和监控设备(20)之间的无线通信的NFC模块(31)。 监测装置(20)包括用于监测动物(21)的头部(25)的加速度的加速度计(27)。 微处理器(28)根据从加速度计(27)接收的信号确定动物的各种状态。 智能电话(32)由软件应用程序编程,该软件应用允许监视设备(20)的识别码从存储器芯片(36)读取并且在智能电话(32)中交叉引用,具有 动物,其可以被输入到智能手机(32)中。 与动物的状态或状态有关的数据可以通过NFC模块(31)从微处理器(28)无线地读入智能电话(32)。 此外,通过智能电话(32)从云计算机服务器下载与动物的状态相对应的存储在云计算机服务器中的动物的数据。