Method for operating a milking facility, in addition to corresponding milking facility
The invention relates to apparatus and methods for operating a carousel milking facility comprising a plurality of milking stations, which are arranged on a movable platform. Movement of the platform is determined in relation to a reference point and the position of at least one milking station can be calculated with a position detection device.
1 . A method for operating a milking facility with at least two milking stations arranged on a movable platform, the method comprising the steps of:
moving the movable platform relative to a reference point; and
determining a change in the position of the movable platform with the aid of an angle sensor.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , and further comprising the step of:
determining a position of at least one of the milking stations with the angle sensor.
3 . The method for operating a milking facility according to claim 1 , and further comprising the step of:
determining a velocity of the movable platform.
4 . The method for operating a milking facility according to claim 3 , and further comprising the step of:
altering the velocity of the movable platform based on an operational situation in at least one milking station.
5 . A method for operating a milking facility with at least two milking stations arranged on a movable platform, the method comprising the steps of:
moving the movable platform relative to a reference point; and
determining an angular change of position of the movable platform with a position detection unit.
6 . The method for operating a milking facility according to claim 5 , wherein the position detection unit is of a type taken from a group of sensors consisting essentially of:
an angle sensor, an absolute angle encoder, an incremental angle encoder, an angle encoder, and a multi-turn shaft encoder.
7 . The method for operating a milking facility according to claim 1 , and further comprising the step of:
transmitting data from the angle sensor to a control unit.
8 . The method for operating a milking facility according to claim 1 , and further comprising the step of:
determining whether an animal is in a milking station.
9 . The method for operating a milking facility according to claim 1 , and further comprising the step of:
identifying an animal in a milking station.
10 . The method for operating a milking facility according to claim 9 , wherein the step of identifying an animal in a milking station comprises the step of:
identifying the animal in an access path leading to the milking station.
11 . A milking facility comprising:
a plurality of milking stations, arranged on a movable platform; and
a position detection device for detecting movement of the movable platform.
12 . The milking facility according to claim 14 , wherein the position detection device is a central position detection device.
13 . The milking facility according to claim 14 , wherein the position detection device comprises:
an angular sensor.