JPH0545170Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a milk electrical resistance detection device that can be used for measuring the flow rate of milk in a milking machine, detecting the end of milking, etc.

[Prior art and its problems] In a milking machine, a pair of electrodes are placed inside the milk feeding channel, and the electrical resistance between the electrodes is detected to detect the presence or absence of milk, that is, the completion of milking. Detection devices have been put into practical use.

By the way, in this type of detection device, the detection accuracy is greatly influenced by the structure and shape of the electrodes, and the installation location, so how to install the electrodes is an important issue.

Conventionally, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 125827/1984, a milk chamber is provided between a milk tube that connects a distributor (tap for connection to a milk pipe) and a milk claw, and an electrode is installed in this milk chamber. A detection device is known in which a sensor is installed to prevent malfunction and to be unaffected by the posture of the device. However, this device has disadvantages such as the need for a milk chamber, which increases the size and cost of the device and makes it inconvenient to handle. Moreover, since the flow direction of the milk changes, fluid resistance increases, and there is also the problem that the milking vacuum pressure tends to drop and fluctuate.

Furthermore, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 62-10127, a constriction is formed in the milk tube connecting the milk claw and the teat cup to provide a milk retention area, and a pair of milk tubes are provided in this retention area. A detection device equipped with electrodes is known. However, since this device places electrodes directly on the milk ducts, the flow of milk and the electrode spacing fluctuate due to twisting or inclination of the milk ducts, which causes detection accuracy to deteriorate or become unstable. Moreover, since the electrodes are installed so as to match the inner wall surface of the milk tube, there is a problem in that residual milk adhering to the wall surface is detected, which tends to cause malfunctions.

[Means for solving problems]

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a milk electrical resistance detection device (hereinafter simply referred to as a detection device) that solves the problems existing in the prior art described above, and is achieved by the detection device 1 shown below. Ru.

That is, the present invention provides a distributor that connects the electrodes 2 and 3 to the milk pipeline 4 when configuring the detection device 1 that detects the electrical resistance of milk by placing the pair of electrodes 2 and 3 facing the milk feeding channel. 5, the electrode rod 16 protruding into the milk feeding channel S is used as one electrode 2, and the conductive connecting pipe 3 is connected to the milk tube 34.
4a is the other electrode 3.

In this case, one electrode 2 can be constructed by exposing a portion on the tip side and covering the remaining portion with an insulator. Furthermore, it is desirable that the milk feeding channel S of the distributor 5 be arranged at a lower position than the top (section M) of the milk tube 34.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a partially sectional side view of a distributor equipped with a detection device according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the main parts of the device, and Fig. 3 is an overall view of a milking machine equipped with the same device. It is an external view.

First, in order to clarify the present invention, the overall schematic configuration of a milking machine equipped with the detection device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

In the same figure, 4 is a milk pipeline, 30
is a vacuum pipeline. Each pipeline 4 and 30 is provided with a milk tap 31 at a predetermined position, which is inclined diagonally upward.
1, the distributor 5 is attached to and detached from it. The distributor 5 includes a pulsator 32, through which the air tube 33 and the vacuum pipeline 30 communicate, and through the milk feeding channel S in the distributor 5, the milk tube 34 and the milk pipeline 4 communicate with each other. communicate.
Further, the tip of the milk tube 34 is connected to a milk claw 35, and a plurality of teat cut liners 36 are connected to the milk claw 35. In addition,
Air tube 33 is each Tate cutlet liner 36
Connect each branch to... 37 is an alarm device integrally attached to the distributor 5.

The present invention is such that the electrodes 2 and 3 of the detection device 1 are installed in the distributor 5 of such a milking machine, and will be specifically explained below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

The distributor 5 is mounted on a milk tap 31 whose upper side is inclined rearward as shown in FIG. Therefore, the milk feeding channel S communicating with the milk tube 34 is inclined upward in the front, and the connected milk tube 34 is curved in a mountain shape at the M portion near the distributor 5.

On the other hand, two mounting holes 10 and 11 are formed in the distributor 5 and are spaced apart by a predetermined width, penetrating from the outer wall to the inside of the milk feeding channel S, and the electrodes 2 and 3 are installed using these mounting holes 10 and 11. Install as shown in Figure 2.

First, a cylindrical electrode cover 13 made of an insulating material with a flange 13a integrally formed on the upper end and a male thread 13b formed on the outer peripheral surface is prepared, and is screwed into the female thread 10a formed in the mounting hole 10. Fix it. Note that an O-ring 14, which is a sealing member, is interposed between the flange 13a and the outer wall of the distributor 5.
Further, inside the electrode cover 13 including the flange portion 13a, there is provided a hollow portion 13c that penetrates from the upper end to the lower end and has a female thread 13d formed near the flange portion 13a.
On the other hand, it has a flange-shaped electrode terminal 15 integrally at the lower end,
A conductive electrode rod 16 having a male screw 16a is also prepared. This electrode rod 16 is inserted from the lower end of the hollow portion 13c, screwed onto the female screw 13d, and has its upper end projected above the flange portion 13a. In addition,
When inserting the electrode rod 16, it is desirable to apply a sealant to the outer periphery of the electrode rod 16. And the electrode rod 16
A washer 18 and a spring washer 19 connected to the lead wire 17 are inserted into the upper end, and a fixing nut 20 is inserted.
Tighten and secure. This constitutes the electrode 2.

What should be noted is that the tip of the electrode cover 13 extends into the milk feeding channel S, and the electrode terminal 15 is positioned approximately at the center of the milk feeding channel S. This eliminates the influence of residual milk adhering to the inner wall of the flow path S, and makes it possible to detect only the milk flowing through the flow path S, thereby ensuring accurate and highly accurate detection.

On the other hand, the attachment hole 11 is formed at a position facing a connecting pipe 34a integrally connected to the end of the milk tube 34. The connecting pipe 34a is made of stainless steel, and is used as the electrode terminal 22 of the electrode 3. Female screw 2 in mounting hole 11
1a is embedded and fixed, and a fixing screw 26 is screwed into the bush 21 to fix the washer 24 and spring washer 25 to which the lead wire 23 for extraction is connected. Then,
The lead wire 23 constitutes the electrode 3 which is electrically connected to the pipe 34a via the bush 21 and the fixing screw 26.

If each electrode 2, 3 is installed in the distributor 5 in this way, the milk tube 3 will be installed as shown in FIG.
It will be located closer to the milk pipeline 4 than the top of the M section at 4, and the height will also be lower by H. As a result, only the milk supplied to the milk pipeline 4 can be detected reliably and with high precision even when the milk rises in the milk tube 34 in an unstable state (returning also occurs) during the initial stage of milking. .

On the other hand, the pair of electrodes 2 and 3 configured in this manner are connected to an alarm device 37 attached to the distributor 5 (FIG. 1). The alarm device 37 is connected to the electrode 2
Breast resistance detection means for detecting the electrical resistance of the milk between the electrodes by passing a current between and 3; Integration processing means for inverting the output of this milk resistance detection means and integrating it over time; and Correcting the output of this integration processing means. a digital display section that displays the milk flow rate and its integrated value, which is the output of the correction means; and a digital display section that displays the milk flow rate that is the output of the correction means and its integrated value; milking is about to end when the milk resistance value falls below a certain value. It is equipped with an alarm buzzer and lamp to notify that the milk resistance value is below a certain value, and an analog display unit that integrates and displays the flow rate when the milk resistance value is below a certain value. Since such an alarm device 37 is directly attached to the distributor 5, there is no need to separately install it elsewhere, and it is possible to realize miniaturization and cordless design.

Although the embodiments have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. For example, although the case where the milk feeding flow path of the distributor is tilted upward toward the front is shown, it may be applied to a type where the flow path is tilted downward toward the front. Other changes may be made in the detailed structure, shape, arrangement, quantity, material, etc., without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[Effect of idea]

As described above, the detection device according to the present invention has a pair of electrodes arranged in the milk feeding channel of the distributor that connects to the milk pipeline, and an electrode rod protruding into the milk feeding channel as one of the electrodes. , and the conductive connecting pipe connected to the milk tube is used as the other electrode, so the following significant effects are obtained.

Since the electrodes are provided on the fixed distributor, there is no need for a milk chamber, a connecting tube, etc., and the entire device can be made simpler, smaller, and more compact, and pressure loss can be eliminated. In addition, stable detection is possible without being affected by the movement of the cow.

One electrode is an electrode rod that protrudes into the milk feeding channel, and the other electrode is a conductive connection pipe, which prevents detection of milk flow rate below a certain amount or residual milk adhering to the wall. It is possible to reliably detect only flow rates above a certain amount.

By arranging the milk feeding channel of the distributor at a position lower than the top of the milk tube, detection of milk backflow that occurs at the initial stage of milking is prevented, and accurate and highly accurate detection is ensured.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1: Partial cross-sectional side view of a distributor equipped with an electrical resistance detection device according to the present invention, Figure 2
Figure: A cross-sectional view showing the main parts of the device; Figure 3: An overall external view of a milking machine equipped with the device. In the drawings, 1... electrical resistance detection device, 2, 3...
...electrode, 4...milk pipeline, 5...distributor, S...milk feeding channel, 16...electrode rod, 34...milk tube, 34a...connection pipe.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] [1] In a milk electrical resistance detection device that detects the electrical resistance of milk by placing a pair of electrodes 2 and 3 facing a milk feeding channel, the electrodes 2 and 3 are connected to a milk pipe. The electrode rod 16 which is disposed in the milk feeding channel S of the distributor 5 connected to the line 4 and which projects into the milk feeding channel S is used as one electrode 2, and a conductive electrode connected to the milk tube 34. A breast electrical resistance detection device characterized in that a connecting pipe 34a is used as the other electrode 3. [2] One electrode 2 has a part of the tip side exposed,
The electrical resistance detection device for breast according to claim 1, wherein the remaining portion is covered with an insulator. [3] The electric resistance of milk according to claim 1 of the registered utility model claim, characterized in that the milk feeding channel S of the distributor 5 is arranged at a lower position than the top (M section) of the milk tube 34. Detection device.