BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the invention

The invention is related to milking systems comprising a milk treatment device for producing a dairy product and a packaging unit for packing the dairy product in a container.

Description of the related art

Making dairy products, such as yoghurt, ice cream and cheese, on a farm, directly from the milk obtained from cows from that farm, has been known for a long time. More recently, Lely has launched the Lely Orbiter™; a miniature dairy factory for processing milk directly on the farm, i.e. milk is processed and bottled within 24 hours after milking of the cow. The milk can thus be processed into a diary product and sold locally at the farm. A miniature dairy factory has the disadvantages that it is just that, a dairy factory shrunk to a size that fits on a farming location. Such a miniature factory does not take into account the limitations of a farm, such as the surrounding environment, the costs, or the needed space and area for such a miniature factory. Furthermore, such a miniature dairy factory and the milking devices on the farm are not fully optimized to form a milking system that obtains and processes the milk extracted from the cow.

The dairy product can be packed in different forms, such as in ajar, a carton or a bottle. Milk and yoghurt are usually sold in larger volumes than cream, such that containers with different volumes are desirable for each dairy product. With different volumes come different dimensions of the containers. Currently, the automation of processing the milk into the different dairy products for local sale can be hindered through needing to adapt to the different packing containers.

It would therefore be desirable to provide a milking system that at least alleviates some of the perceived inconveniences of the prior art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided a milking system, comprising:

- a milking device being configured to milk a dairy animal to form a milking

- a control unit;

- a milk treatment device connected to the milking device for receiving and treating milked milk of the milking, - at least one buffer tank for temporary storage of at least part of the milked milk before entering the milk treatment device,

- a first milk transport line for transporting the milk from the milking device to the buffer tank, and

- a second milk transport line for transporting the milk from the buffer tank to the milk treatment device, wherein the milk treatment device comprises a processing unit to process the milk to a dairy product, a product unit for temporarily storing the dairy product, and a packaging unit to pack the dairy product in containers, wherein the packaging unit is configured to handle containers of different dimensions, wherein the packaging unit comprises a first frame and a second frame that are moveable with respect to each other in at least one direction, wherein the first frame comprises at least one device to handle a cover of the container, and the second frame comprises at least a transporting device to transport the container through the packaging unit.

The milking device in the milking system extracts a milking of milk from a dairy animal, such as a cow, a sheep, a goat or any other dairy animal. The term ‘a milking’ means the amount of milk extracted from a dairy animal during a single visit of the milking device. After extraction from the dairy animal, the milk is transported to a buffer tank via a first milk transport line. Via a second milk transport line, the milk is transported from the buffer unit to the milk treatment device. The milk treatment device processes the milk, for instance through pasteurization, standardization and/or homogenisation, through a processing unit, and temporarily stores the resulting dairy product in a product unit. The product unit can also be used for maturing yoghurt. The dairy product is subsequently put into containers in the packaging unit. The packaging unit is configured to fill containers with different volumes and dimensions, i.e. with different heights, widths and/or lengths. In order for the packaging unit to be able to adapt to these different dimensions, the packaging unit comprises a first frame and a second frame that are movable in at least one direction with respect to each other. The control unit controls the milking system, in particular the milking device and the milk treatment device. In case the milking device has a first control unit, and the milk treatment device has a second control unit, the first and second control unit may be in communication.

Preferably, the first and second frames are moveable in a horizontal and/or vertical direction with respect to each other. As such, the distance between the frames can be altered and accommodated to the dimensions of the containers to be filled with the dairy product. According to an embodiment, the first frame is one of a stationary frame and a dynamic frame that is movable with respect to the stationary frame, and the second frame is the other of the dynamic frame and the stationary frame. Preferably, the first frame is the stationary frame, and the second frame is the dynamic frame.

The second frame may comprise a sub-frame, and the transporting device may comprise a pair of guides for guiding the containers during transportation, wherein the guides are provided on the sub-frame and wherein the sub-frame is configured for moving each guide in an opposite direction from the other guide for adjusting a width dimension of the transporting device is such that differently sized containers are accommodated. Having movable guides along the transporting device allows different sized containers, in particular containers having different widths and/or lengths, to be transported by the transporting device. Preferably, the transporting device comprises a conveyor system and each of the guides is provided at an opposite longitudinal side of the conveyor system. The conveyor system may comprise a belt, chain or any suitable type of conveyor.

In an embodiment, the packaging unit further comprises a filling station, a first transporting device for supplying containers to the filling station and a second transporting device for carrying the containers from the filling station. The filling station is used to automatically fill each of the containers with the dairy product. Preferably, the packaging unit is formed in a U-shape, wherein each of the transporting devices form a leg of the U-shape, and the filling station is located at a base of the U-shape. In such a way, the packaging unit can be made more compact with respect to packaging unit that are mounted in a longitudinal direction. The filling station may comprise a filling device for filling the containers, and a holding platform for holding the containers in place during filling, wherein the holding platform forms part of the dynamic frame. The filling device may be a top-down or bottom-up filler. Preferably, the filling station comprises a coverhandling device to take off the cover from the container before filling and to put the cover back on the container after filling.

The container may be a suitable container for the dairy product to be packed, like a bottle with a cap or laminate carton container for milk, or a jar or tub with a lid for yoghurt and/or cream. Suitable materials for said containers and closures can be plastic, glass, a laminate material, or any other suitable material for dairy products.

In an embodiment, the second frame comprises a container-labelling unit for putting at least one label on a side of each of the containers when in use. The container-labelling unit is preferably provided on a longitudinal side of the transporting device. In particular, the container-labelling unit may be provided on the sub-frame such that with each adaptation of the sub-frame to a different sized container, the containerlabelling unit moves with the sub-frame. Separate adjustment of the container-labelling unit location is thus superfluous.

Preferably, the first frame comprises a cover-labelling unit for putting a label on the cover of each of the containers, i.e. on top of the containers, after filling and closing of the containers. As the first frame and the second frame are movable with respect to each other, the distances between the two frames can be adjusted easily. As such, having the cover-labelling unit and the container-labelling unit on the first and second frame, respectively, allows for corresponding adjustments to the labelling units. The provision of the cover-labelling unit and the container-labelling unit may also be reversed, i.e. on the second and first frame, respectively. Preferably, the cover-labelling unit is provided on the stationary frame, and the container-labelling unit is provided on the dynamic frame, in particular on the sub-frame.

The milking device may be an automatic milking device, such as a milking robot, a milking carrousel or a conventional milking parlor. The milking device may comprise a plurality of milking cups, each ending in a milk hose, a first milk jar connected to the milk hose, which first milk jar is configured to receive the milk from the milking, wherein the first milk transport line is in flow communication with the first milk jar, a first pumping device configured to pump the milking from the first milk jar into the first milk transport line, wherein the at least one buffer tank is configured for receiving and storing at least a part of the milking via the first milk pipeline.

Preferably, the milking system comprises a second milk jar provided in the first milk transport line, and in flow communication to the first milk jar of the milking device and the at least one buffer tank via the first milk transport line, wherein the second milk jar receives the milk of the milking from the first milk jar via a first portion of the first milk transport line, where the first pumping device is configured to pump the milking from the first milk jar to the second milk jar via the first portion of the first milk transport line, the milking system further comprising a second pumping device which is configured to pump at least a part of the milking from the second milk jar to the at least one buffer tank via a second portion of the first milk transport line, wherein the second pumping device pumps the milking through the second portion of the milk transport line at a lower flow rate than the first pumping device pumps said milking through the first portion of the milk transport line. The milking carrousel may be provided with one or more sets of milking cups, wherein each set of milking cups comprises a plurality of milking cups, preferably a milking cup for each teat of a dairy animal. In particular, each set of milking cups may contain four milking cups, one for each teat of an udder of a cow. Each set of milking cups in a milking carrousel may be provided with a first milk jar or milk glass, preferably additionally with a second milk jar or milk glass. In a milking carrousel multiple dairy animals can be milked during a single milking session.

The milking robot may be a voluntary visitable milking robot, wherein the plurality of milking cups comprises a milking cup for each teat of a dairy animal. In particular, the plurality of milking cups may contain four milking cups, one for each teat of an udder of a cow. Per milking robot a first milk jar or milk glass, and a second milk jar or milk glass is provided. Usually, the milking robot extracts milk from a single dairy animal during a single milking session.

The first and the second milk jar, or milk glass, have substantially the same volume, in particular equivalent to a maximum expected milking.

In an embodiment, the milking system comprises multiple milking devices, each of which is configured to transport milk to the milk treatment device via the at least one buffer tank. Each milking device may comprise a second milk jar as described above, which then transports the at least part of the milking to the at least one buffer tank. A plurality of milking devices may also form a cluster that shares a second milk jar, and multiple clusters of milking devices may be present, such that each cluster has its own second milk jar. Furthermore, the milking system may comprise a housing wherein at least the processing unit, the product unit and the packaging unit are located in the housing. The housing may be located separately from a location of the milking device. The milking device may be located in a barn or a separate milking housing. Preferably, in use the milking system is located on an agricultural location, in particular a dairy farm.

The milking system may further comprise a hygienic and conditioned section wherein at least one of the process unit, the product unit and at least part of the packaging unit are located. Preferably, the filling station of the packaging unit is located in the hygienic and conditioned section. In particular, the hygienic and conditioned section is provided in the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1a shows an embodiment of the milking system according to the invention as described above. Figure 1 b shows a further embodiment of the milking system according to the invention as described above.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a packaging unit of the milking system according to the invention as described above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1 a and 1 b each show an embodiment of the milking system 1 comprising a milking device 10 and a milk handling system 100. A central control unit 13 controls the milking system 1. The milk-handling device 100 comprises a milk treatment device 200 for treating at least part of the extracted milk and a buffer unit 300 for temporary storage of the at least part of the extracted milk by the milking device 100 before entering the milk treatment device 200. The buffer unit 300 comprises four buffer tanks 301 that each can store multiple milkings from the milking device 10, preferably at least 100 liters of milk. The milk is transported from the milking device 10 to the buffer unit 300 to temporarily store the milk via the first transport line 11 .

From the buffer unit 300 the milk is transported to the milk treatment device 200 via a second milk transport line 12. The milk treatment device 200 comprises a processing unit 201 to process the milk into a dairy product, a product unit 202 for temporarily storing the dairy product, and a packaging unit 230 to pack the dairy product in suitable containers.

A first supply line 204 is provided between the processing unit 201 and the product unit 202 for supplying the dairy product to the product unit 202, and a second supply line 205 between the product unit 202 and the packaging unit 230 for supplying the dairy product to the packaging unit 230.

The milking device 10 comprises a plurality of milking cups 1 , each ending in a milk hose 15, and a first milk jar 16 connected to the milk hose 15. The first milk jar 16 receives the milk from the milking of the cow 17, wherein the first milk transport line 11 is in flow communication with the first milk jar 16. A first pumping device 18 pumps the milking from the first milk jar 16 into the first milk transport line 11 .

A second milk jar 19 provided in the first milk transport line 11 , which second milk jar 19 is in flow communication to the first milk jar 16 and the buffer tank 301 via the first milk transport line 11. The second milk jar 19 receives the milk of the milking from the first milk jar 16 via a first portion 1 T of the first milk transport line 11 , where the first pumping device 18 pumps the milking from the first milk jar 16 to the second milk jar 19 via the first portion 1 T of the first milk transport line 11. A second pumping device 20 pumps the milking from the second milk jar 19 to the buffer tank 301 via a second portion 11” of the first milk transport line 11 . The second pumping device 20 pumps the milking through the second portion 11” of the milk transport line 11 at a lower flow rate than the first pumping device 18 pumps the milking through the first portion 11 ’ of the milk transport line 11.

The processing unit 201 comprises a pasteurizing device to pasteurize the milk, a homogenizing device for homogenization of the milk and a standardization device that is configured to standardize a fat content of the milk. Alternatively, or additionally, a device to standardize a protein content of the milk may be provided. The standardization device may be replaced by a separator device for separation of the fat from the milk, thus forming skimmed milk. The separated fat may later be added to the skimmed milk to provide semi-skimmed milk with a standardized fat content.

The product unit 202 comprises five product tanks 210 to temporarily store a dairy product. For instance a product tank for storing cream, one or more product tanks for milk, and one or more product tanks for storing and maturing yoghurt. The packaging unit 230 comprises a packaging device 211 for packing the diary product in a suitable container. The packaging device 211 comprises a filling station 212 to fill the container, a labelling device to label the container, and a closing station to close the container after filling.

The milking system is located at a farm with dairy animals, i.e. cows 17. The milking device 10 is located in a barn (not shown) where the cows 17 roam. Via the first transport line 11 the milk extracted from the cows 17 is transported to the buffer unit 300 that is usually located in a different space than the milking device. The milk treatment device 200 is a modular device with different modules that together make up the complete milk treatment device 200. The various modules can be placed within a housing 220 with multiple rooms. The product unit 202 and the filling station 212 of the packaging unit 230 are placed in a conditioned and hygienic room 221 , which is separated from the other rooms. The hygienic room 221 can be accessed via a hygienic close 206.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a front side of an embodiment of a packaging unit 230 of the milking system 1 according to the invention as described above. The packaging unit 230 comprises a first frame 231 and a second frame 232 that are moveable with respect to each other in at least one direction. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the first frame 231 is stationary, while the second frame 232 is movable in a height direction with respect to the stationary first frame 231 to adjust for the height of a bottle 233. The first frame 231 comprises a cap-labelling unit 241 to label the cap 234 of the bottle 233. The second frame 232 comprises a first transporting device 238 and a second transporting device 239 to transport the container through the packaging unit 230. The first and second transporting device 238, 239 comprise a conveyor system. The first transporting device 238 transports the empty bottle 233 towards the filling station 212 (shown in Fig. 1 ) along the direction of arrows A in Figs. 1 and 2. The second transporting device 239 transports the filled bottle 244 away from the filling station in the direction of arrow C as shown in Figs. 1 a and b. The filled bottles 244 are buffered on a third transporting device and put into boxes 243. The boxes 243 with the filled bottles 244 are closed, taped and transferred to a cooling space 242 for further distribution.

In case something is wrong with the bottle 233 after filling and labelling, the bottle 233 is rejected and transported in the direction of arrow B.

The dynamic second frame 232 comprises a sub-frame 237 that is provided with guides 240 on either side of each of the transporting devices 238, 239. The subframe 237 allows the guides 240 to move in opposite directions from each other to adjust to a width or length dimension of the bottle 233.

Most operations in the packaging unit 230 deal with the top or cap 234 of the bottle 233, so instead of adjusting all devices for these operations each time a differently sized bottle 233 is to be filled at the packaging unit 230, the transporting devices 238, 239 including the guides 240 can be adjusted in height towards these devices with the dynamic second frame 232. This may be done with a spindle system (not shown) such that only a single act is needed to lift the complete second frame 232. The devices, such as a orientation unit 235, can be mounted on the stationary first frame 231. The orientation unit 235 can rotate the container or bottle 233 into the correct orientation for labeling. In this embodiment, since the handling is done on the neck of the bottle 233, the orientation unit 235 does not need to be separately adjusted in height. With the dynamic frame the bottle is already adjusted in height to accommodate for different sized bottles. A front-labelling unit may be provided at, adjacent to or nearby the orientation unit 235.

The adjustment of the guides 240 for the two conveyors 238, 239 to the different widths of the bottles is done by moving the sub-frame. Preferably, the sub-frame is moveable with a single act as well. By moving the sub-frame 237, the guides 240 on either side of the conveyor move in opposite direction towards or away from the center of the conveyor 238, 239, thus decreasing or increasing a width space between the guides to accommodate for different sized bottles in subsequent batches.

A back-labelling unit 236 is mounted onto the sub-frame 237 in a robust way. The back-labelling unit is used to put a back label on a backside of the container. The position of the back label is related to a bottom of the container or bottle 233. As the back-labelling unit 236 interacts with similar sides of the bottle 233 as the guides 240, no separate adjustment for the unit 236 is needed. The invention as described eliminates separate adjustments for all devices interacting with the bottles 233 during packaging.

Fig. 2 also shows a cap-label unit 241 , which is mounted on the fixed frame 231 , to put a tamper-evident label on the cap 234 of the filled bottle 244. The bottles at cap-label unit 241 are adjusted in height with the dynamic frame 232 to accommodate for different sized bottles so the cap-label-unit does not need to be adjustable separately. The cap-label unit may be configured to automatically adjust for relatively small differences in height.

LIST OF PARTS

I . Milking system 230. Packaging unit

231 . Stationary first frame

10. Milking device 232. Dynamic second frame

I I . First milk transport line 233. Empty bottle

12. Second milk transport line 234. Cap

13. Central control unit 235. Orientation unit

14. Milking cups 236. Back-labelling unit

15. Milk hose 237. Sub-frame

16. First milk jar 238. First transporting device

17. Cow 239. Second transporting device

18. First pumping device 240. Side guide

19. Second milk jar 241. Cap-labelling unit

20. Second pumping device 242. Cooling space

243. Boxes

100. Milk handling system 244. Filled bottles

200. Milk treatment device 300. Buffer unit

201. Processing unit 301. Buffer tank

202. Product unit

204. First supply line

205. Second supply line

206. Hygienic close

210. Product tank

211 . Packaging device

212. Filling station

220. Housing

221. Hygienic room io