Milking process monitoring

Abstract

A method that can monitor a milking process is presented and, in particular, a method and apparatus that can effectively determine the stage of the milking process. An additional aspect is to provide a method that may measure a vacuum level associated with the milking process, receive an operational state of a valve associated with the milking process, and compare the vacuum level and valve operational state to criteria to determine the milking stage. Further, the method may be configured to issue an indication of the milking stage or issue an alarm if alarm conditions are satisfied.

What we claim is: 
     
         1 . A method of determining a current stage of a milking process having a plurality of stages, the method comprising the steps of:
 measuring a vacuum level associated with the milking process; and   receiving an operational state of at least one valve associated with the milking process; and   determining the current stage by comparing the vacuum level and operational state of the valve with predetermined criteria associated with the plurality of stages using a processor; and   issuing an indication of the current stage of the milking process.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of stages comprise an off-line stage, a milking stage, and an off-site stage. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of stages comprise a washing stage. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 measuring at least one other factor in the milking process;   transmitting this factor to the processor;   comparing the measurement of the other factor to alarm conditions; and   issuing an alarm if the alarm conditions are met.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the other factor is cleaning agent flow rate. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the other factor is wash water temperature, and the alarm condition is a predetermined temperature threshold. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for determining a current stage of a milking process having a plurality of stages, the apparatus including:
 a vacuum level sensor configured to output a signal indicating a measured vacuum level;   a valve configured to output a signal indicating an operational state of the valve; and   a processor configured to:
 receive the signals indicating vacuum level and valve state; 
 determine the current stage by comparison of the vacuum level and operational state of the valve with predetermined criteria associated with the plurality of stages; and 
 issue an indication of the current stage of the milking process. 
   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the apparatus comprises at least one additional sensor configured to communicate with the processor. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 receive at least one signal from the additional sensor indicating measurement of another factor;   compare the measurement of the other factor to at least one alarm condition; and   issue an alarm if the alarm conditions are met.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the additional sensor is a cleaning agent sensor configured to output a signal indicating a cleaning agent flow rate. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the additional sensor is a temperature sensor configured to measure wash water temperature, and the alarm condition is a predetermined temperature threshold. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the alarm is a siren or light. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the alarm is an electronic message to a computer. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the alarm is an electronic message to a hand-held device.