Method for operating a milking facility, in addition to corresponding milking facility

Abstract

The invention relates to apparatus and methods for operating a carousel milking facility comprising a plurality of milking stations, which are arranged on a movable platform. Movement of the platform is determined in relation to a reference point and the position of at least one milking station can be calculated with a position detection device.

1 . A method for operating a milking facility with at least two milking stations arranged on a movable platform, the method comprising the steps of:
 moving the movable platform relative to a reference point; and   determining a change in the position of the movable platform with the aid of an angle sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , and further comprising the step of:
 determining a position of at least one of the milking stations with the angle sensor.   
     
     
         3 . The method for operating a milking facility according to  claim 1 , and further comprising the step of:
 determining a velocity of the movable platform.   
     
     
         4 . The method for operating a milking facility according to  claim 3 , and further comprising the step of:
 altering the velocity of the movable platform based on an operational situation in at least one milking station.   
     
     
         5 . A method for operating a milking facility with at least two milking stations arranged on a movable platform, the method comprising the steps of:
 moving the movable platform relative to a reference point; and   determining an angular change of position of the movable platform with a position detection unit.   
     
     
         6 . The method for operating a milking facility according to  claim 5 , wherein the position detection unit is of a type taken from a group of sensors consisting essentially of:
 an angle sensor, an absolute angle encoder, an incremental angle encoder, an angle encoder, and a multi-turn shaft encoder.   
     
     
         7 . The method for operating a milking facility according to  claim 1 , and further comprising the step of:
 transmitting data from the angle sensor to a control unit.   
     
     
         8 . The method for operating a milking facility according to  claim 1 , and further comprising the step of:
 determining whether an animal is in a milking station.   
     
     
         9 . The method for operating a milking facility according to  claim 1 , and further comprising the step of:
 identifying an animal in a milking station.   
     
     
         10 . The method for operating a milking facility according to  claim 9 , wherein the step of identifying an animal in a milking station comprises the step of:
 identifying the animal in an access path leading to the milking station.   
     
     
         11 . A milking facility comprising:
 a plurality of milking stations, arranged on a movable platform; and   a position detection device for detecting movement of the movable platform.   
     
     
         12 . The milking facility according to claim  14 , wherein the position detection device is a central position detection device. 
     
     
         13 . The milking facility according to claim  14 , wherein the position detection device comprises:
 an angular sensor.