US3841756A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for milk production analysis
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-01-26
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Granted: 1974-10-15
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Expires: 1993-01-26
Abstract
Abstract In a cow milking operation where there is a plurality of milking stations, an apparatus for monitoring and recording individual milk production. At each transfer station where there is a container to collect the individual cow''s milk production, there is an individual monitoring unit which senses (a) the leukocyte content of the milk, (b) the butterfat content, and (c) the weight of the milk. Also there is a device for entering the cow''s identification number. This information is transmitted to a single master unit which prints each cow''s number along with the leukocyte, butterfat and weight information from the cow''s production for each milking.
Inventors
- 👤 P Grochowicz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 13:05
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01J; A01J7/00; A01J5/00; A01J5/013; A01J5/0131; A01J5/0133; A01J5/0135; G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/02; G01N33/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
342 words
An apparatus for analyzing the milk production of a plurality of cows being milked at a plurality of milk stations in a milk parlor, wherein an individual cow''s milk production is collected through a respective containing transfer means, with the milk from several transfer means being transferred to a bulk tank, said apparatus comprising: a. a plurality of milk analyzing units at respective milking stations and operatively connected to a respective transfer means, each unit comprising: 1. a butterfat sensing device operatively connected to its respective transfer means and arranged to provide a voltage signal having a proportional relationship to butterfat content of milk in its respective transfer means, 2. a leukocyte sensing device operatively connected to its respective transfer means and arranged to provide a voltage signal having a proportional relationship to leukocyte content of milk in its respective transfer means, and 3. a quantity sensing device operatively connected to its respective transfer means and arranged to provide a voltage signal having a proportional relationship to quantity of milk collected through its respective transfer means, b. a plurality of cow identification means, each at a respective milk station by which an individual identification of a cow whose milk production is being collected can be entered, c. a master unit to receive informational inputs from each of said analyzing units and each of said cow identification means and to present an informational output including each cow''s identification with corresponding butterfat, leukocyte content and quantity of each cow''s milk production, d. means to transmit signals from said analyzing units and cow identifying means to said master unit, and e. activating means at each station, each of which activating means is operatively connected to its respective cow identifying means and also operatively connected to its respective butterfat sensing device, leukocyte sensing device and quantity sensing device in a manner that operation of said activating means causes transmission through said transmitting means to the master unit the correlated signals of its respective butterfat sensing device, leukocyte sensing device, quantity sensing device and cow identifying means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
342 words
An apparatus for analyzing the milk production of a plurality of cows being milked at a plurality of milk stations in a milk parlor, wherein an individual cow''s milk production is collected through a respective containing transfer means, with the milk from several transfer means being transferred to a bulk tank, said apparatus comprising: a. a plurality of milk analyzing units at respective milking stations and operatively connected to a respective transfer means, each unit comprising: 1. a butterfat sensing device operatively connected to its respective transfer means and arranged to provide a voltage signal having a proportional relationship to butterfat content of milk in its respective transfer means, 2. a leukocyte sensing device operatively connected to its respective transfer means and arranged to provide a voltage signal having a proportional relationship to leukocyte content of milk in its respective transfer means, and 3. a quantity sensing device operatively connected to its respective transfer means and arranged to provide a voltage signal having a proportional relationship to quantity of milk collected through its respective transfer means, b. a plurality of cow identification means, each at a respective milk station by which an individual identification of a cow whose milk production is being collected can be entered, c. a master unit to receive informational inputs from each of said analyzing units and each of said cow identification means and to present an informational output including each cow''s identification with corresponding butterfat, leukocyte content and quantity of each cow''s milk production, d. means to transmit signals from said analyzing units and cow identifying means to said master unit, and e. activating means at each station, each of which activating means is operatively connected to its respective cow identifying means and also operatively connected to its respective butterfat sensing device, leukocyte sensing device and quantity sensing device in a manner that operation of said activating means causes transmission through said transmitting means to the master unit the correlated signals of its respective butterfat sensing device, leukocyte sensing device, quantity sensing device and cow identifying means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
a leukocyte sensing device operatively connected to its respective transfer means and arranged to provide a voltage signal having a proportional relationship to leukocyte content of milk in its respective transfer means, and
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
a leukocyte sensing device operatively connected to its respective transfer means and arranged to provide a voltage signal having a proportional relationship to leukocyte content of milk in its respective transfer means, and
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said butterfat sensing device comprises means to transmit radiant energy through a portion of milk in its respective transfer containing means and means to sense the radiation transmitted through said milk portion and generate a voltage signal proportional to the light transmitted to the sensing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
198 words
a quantity sensing device operatively connected to its respective transfer means and arranged to provide a voltage signal having a proportional relationship to quantity of milk collected through its respective transfer means, b. a plurality of cow identification means, each at a respective milk station by which an individual identification of a cow whose milk production is being collected can be entered, c. a master unit to receive informational inputs from each of said analyzing units and each of said cow identification means and to present an informational output including each cow''s identification with corresponding butterfat, leukocyte content and quantity of each cow''s milk production, d. means to transmit signals from said analyzing units and cow identifying means to said master unit, and e. activating means at each station, each of which activating means is operatively connected to its respective cow identifying means and also operatively connected to its respective butterfat sensing device, leukocyte sensing device and quantity sensing device in a manner that operation of said activating means causes transmission through said transmitting means to the master unit the correlated signals of its respective butterfat sensing device, leukocyte sensing device, quantity sensing device and cow identifying means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
198 words
a quantity sensing device operatively connected to its respective transfer means and arranged to provide a voltage signal having a proportional relationship to quantity of milk collected through its respective transfer means, b. a plurality of cow identification means, each at a respective milk station by which an individual identification of a cow whose milk production is being collected can be entered, c. a master unit to receive informational inputs from each of said analyzing units and each of said cow identification means and to present an informational output including each cow''s identification with corresponding butterfat, leukocyte content and quantity of each cow''s milk production, d. means to transmit signals from said analyzing units and cow identifying means to said master unit, and e. activating means at each station, each of which activating means is operatively connected to its respective cow identifying means and also operatively connected to its respective butterfat sensing device, leukocyte sensing device and quantity sensing device in a manner that operation of said activating means causes transmission through said transmitting means to the master unit the correlated signals of its respective butterfat sensing device, leukocyte sensing device, quantity sensing device and cow identifying means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said leukocyte sensing device comprises means to transmit an electric current through at least a portion of milk in its respective transfer means and current sensing means to produce an output voltage proportional to the current being transmitted through said milk portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said container transfer means comprises a container to collect a cow''s output, and said quantity sensing device comprises first weighing means operatively connected to its respective transfer container so as to be responsive to the weight of milk therein, and other means to generate a voltage signal proportional to the weight of milk in said transfer container.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
134 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein: a. said butterfat sensing device comprises means to transmit radiant energy through a portion of milk in its respective transfer means and means to sense the radiation transmitted through said milk portion and generate a voltage signal proportional to the light transmitted to the sensing means; b. said leukocyte sensing device comprises means to transmit an electric current through at least a portion of milk in its respective transfeR means and current sensing means to produce an output voltage proportional to the current being transmitted through said milk portion, and c. said quantity sensing device comprises first quantity responsive means operatively connected to its respective transfer means, and other means to generate a voltage signal proportional to the quantity of milk collected through said transfer means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 5, including analog to digital converting means to receive output signals from said butterfat sensing device, said leukocyte sensing device, and said quantity sensing device and to transmit a numerical signal to said master unit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
81 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein each milk analyzing unit is normally in a nontransmitting condition, and the activating means of each milk analyzing unit is arranged not only to transmit signals from each of its three related sensing devices to said master unit, and also transmits an identifying signal from the cow identification means, but also generates a signal to activate the master unit to record the cow''s identification and information from each of the three sensing units.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said switch means also transmits a signal to said other milking stations to indicate that said apparatus is in use.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said signal transmitting means also includes indicating means at each milking station all of which are activated when any of said signal transmitting means is activated.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said indicating means is characterized in that it generates a warning signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said activating means is arranged to transmit an activating signal to said master unit, to activate warning means to indicate said apparatus is in use, and to transmit signals from each of the three sensing devices to said master unit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said activating means comprises switch means having a direct operative connection from both its respective cow identifying means and its respective analyzing unit to said master unit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-14 | 1978-04-15 | 1978-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-14 | 1982-04-15 | 1982-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-14 | 1986-04-15 | 1986-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |