Method for determining the quality and/or composition of milk, in particular during a milking process

Abstract

A method is proposed for ascertaining the quality and/or the composition of milk, in particular during a milking operation, in which the fill level of the milk in a chamber is determined. After the fill level of the milk in the chamber has been determined, the milk is irradiated using at least one radiation of a predefined wavelength. The intensity of the reflected radiation is measured. The fill level and the intensity of the reflected radiation represent a value pair. Characteristic values are stored in a memory. A characteristic value is assigned to the ascertained value pair. A statement about the quality and/or the composition of the milk can be made from the characteristic value thus ascertained.

1 . A method for ascertaining the quality and/or the composition of milk, in particular during a milking operation, comprising the steps of:
 determining a fill level of the milk in a chamber;   irradiating the milk using at least one radiation of a predefined wavelength;   measuring an intensity of the reflected radiation; and   ascertaining a characteristic value associated with the value pair fill level and intensity of the reflected radiation from stored characteristic values.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of irradiating the milk includes using red light to irradiate the milk and the step of determining the fill level of the milk is determined at least in part from the intensity of the reflected red light. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predefined wavelength corresponds to a wavelength of green light or blue light or a combination of both. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of irradiating the milk is includes the steps of successively or simultaneously using a red light, green light, or blue light or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of irradiating the milk includes the step of applying pulsing radiation. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , and further comprising the step of:
 storing the characteristic values in the form of a table.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , and further comprising the step of:
 determining a characteristic value from the fill level and the intensity of the reflected radiation as parameters in a mathematical relationship.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the fill level comprises the step of:
 detecting a milk stream.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the radiation is a monochromatic radiation. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fill level is determined capacitively. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , and wherein the fill level in the chamber is predefined. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , and further comprising the steps of:
 providing at least one sensor having at least one light source and at least one receiver, wherein the sensor is calibrated to a herd-specific white of the milk.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , and further comprising the steps of:
 providing a sensor that has a light source which emits red light and a receiver which receives red light, and   calibrating the sensor with a predefined red liquid.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein milked milk flows through the chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , and further comprising the step of:
 successively ascertaining multiple characteristic values during a milking operation.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , and further comprising the step of:
 conducting the milk into a tank for milk which can be used or milk which cannot be used in dependence on at least one characteristic value.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the fill level comprises the step of:
 detecting a minimum milk stream.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fill level is determined inductively. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , and further comprising the steps of:
 providing at least one sensor having at least one light source and at least one receiver, wherein the sensor is calibrated to an animal-individual white of the milk.