Milking machine for cows at home: scheme and types, principle of operation

Milking machines, or machines, are used for machine milking of different breeds of cows. Thanks to such equipment, the process of extracting milk from the udder of cattle is simplified. Machine milking, that is, technology, saves on labor costs and does not harm cows, but, on the contrary, increases milk yield. Milking machines are used in large and small farms.

What is the device?

The milking machine is a special device that is used to milk cows. Mobile household models are used in small subsidiary farms, and industrial (with automatic control) stationary units are used in large livestock complexes.

Despite the variety, milk is taken from the cow by each product under the action of vacuum (rarefaction). The device consists of a vacuum unit and milking equipment. During milking, cows can be in stalls or in stalls that use different patterns (parallel, radial, sequential). The simplest milking machine is equipped with the following elements:

glasses (4 pieces);
milk lines and air lines;
milk collection cans;
motor, pump, collector, pulsator.

Assignment of nodes:

cups (plastic or metal) with rubber tubes inside - devices for attaching to udder teats and milking;
milk pipelines - hoses connected to each glass serve to suck milk;
piping - hoses connected to each glass serve to bring the vacuum;
vacuum unit (electric motor, pump) - designed to create a rarefaction of air (vacuum) necessary for the milking process;
pulsator - a valve for alternately supplying air and vacuum into the pulsation chamber of the milking cup;
collector - for distributing vacuum into glasses and collecting milk.

Manufacturers produce different milking equipment according to the principle of operation. For example, two-stroke and three-stroke. A two-stroke device, as a rule, works on the principle of compressing and sucking milk. The three-stroke system is easier for animals to tolerate and has an additional rest mode.

In simple machines, milk is collected in cans, in industrial plants it flows through milk pipelines into special tanks.

The heart of every milking machine is a motor that drives a vacuum pump that creates a constant vacuum. Under the action of the vacuum going through the pipelines and atmospheric air, the milk is sucked off. A pulsator is used to create a variable vacuum from a constant vacuum. Each element that is part of the device ultimately serves to suck milk from the cow's udder.

Working principle

How the technique works:

installation powered by electricity;
a vacuum unit creates a rarefaction (vacuum);
in the process of creating a vacuum, an electric motor and a pump are involved;
muffler reduces the noise level during operation of the unit;
vacuum regulator maintains the desired pressure in the system;
inside the pipeline, the air pressure becomes lower than the external (atmospheric);
pulsator converts constant vacuum pressure into variable pressure;
air is pumped into the collector with a pulsation frequency of 45-65 cycles per minute;
each pulse consists of a compression and relaxation stroke;
vacuum pressure is supplied to the milking cup, put on the nipples;
thanks to the pulsator, the rubber inside the glass is relaxed and squeezed;
milk flows through the milk pipeline into the can;
depending on the type of device, cattle can be milked in stalls or pens.

The vacuum pump pumps out air to create a vacuum. The pressure inside the pipeline decreases. The vacuum activates the pulsator. The compression of the rubber inside the milking cups depends on this element of the milking machine. Ultimately, the cups of milking equipment work (milk milk) thanks to the pulsator and the alternate supply of normal air and rarefied vacuum to the pulsation chamber.Selected milk through the milk pipeline enters the can.

Pros and cons

Pros and conssaving time, reducing labor costs;milking speed increases (cattle are milked in 4-6 minutes);completely milks milk from the udder;does not cause pain in cattle;the milking process takes place under sterile conditions;you can learn how to work with the equipment yourself with the help of instructions;it is advisable to apply with any number of cattle;the cost of the device pays off in just a month (when milking milk for sale).a certain amount of money is needed to purchase;Cattle will have to be accustomed to machine milking;equipment sometimes breaks down and needs to be repaired.

Varieties of milking machines

All machines for machine milking of cattle are classified depending on the structure and constituent elements. The simpler the technique, the lower its cost.

By motor and pump type

Vacuum units of the following types are used in milking machines (by type of pump):

membrane (budget option for 1-3 cows);
rotary (reliable, silent);
centrifugal (expensive);
piston (powerful, noisy).

By milking type

According to the principle of action (type of milking), the following installations are distinguished:

two-stroke - sucking stroke and compression stroke (high speed);
three-stroke - the stroke of sucking, squeezing and resting (meet the physiological needs of animals);
four-stroke - squeeze-suck, squeeze-rest (more gentle mode and slower milking speed).

By purpose of use

Types of equipment depending on the purpose (conditions of use):

stationary for milking cattle in stalls, milking parlors, on conveyor lines;
mobile (carried by hand or cart) for individual milking.

Varieties of technique depending on the type of animals:

for milking cows (4 cups);
for milking goats (2 cups).

Popular models

Common fixed installations:

"Tandem" - serves 50-250 cows standing sideways in individual pens;
"Herringbone" - serves 150-600 heads, animals stand in a row (at an angle) in separate sections;
"Parallel" - serves 500-1200 heads, cows stand in separate sections, back to the machine.

Popular portable models and their characteristics:

"Volga" (three-stroke) - apparatus with two-chamber glasses, improved pulsator and vacuum pump;
"Burenka" (two-stroke) - lightweight and budget design, easy to use, has a rotary vacuum pump;
"Birch" (two-stroke) - a device with a rotary pump (designed to serve 12 cows);
"AID" (two-stroke) - a design weighing 42 kg, with a vacuum pump, a pulsator, designed to serve 7 cows.

Device selection criteria

Owners of a single cow or a small herd can buy a budget portable milking machine for as little as $200. Usually this is a two-stroke piston unit. Three-stroke devices on a vacuum rotary pump are considered more expensive. For a large number of herds in stationary milking conditions, a special automatic milking machine is installed in the barn, which allows you to simultaneously milk 50 or more cows.

Assembly and installation of the apparatus

If the milking equipment is powered by an electric motor, then, first of all, you need to bring an outlet to the milking place on the farm. It is advisable to choose a dry place, protected from moisture penetration. Before milking, you need to connect all the elements of the milking machine, using the instructions or the manual for the specific model.

All vacuum and milk hoses must be connected to the equipment ready for operation. The device is turned on by pressing the "Start" button.Before use, it is recommended to adjust the pressure indicators in the system using a vacuum regulator. You can put your finger in the milking cup and experience the pulsation of the rubber. It is recommended to wash the machine before using it for milking.

Rules for the use of technology

If earlier the animals were milked by hand, then they will need to be accustomed to machine milking. Before using the milking machine, cattle are examined for the presence of mastitis. Animals with udder diseases are milked by hand until they are he althy.

Not every cattle can be milked using machinery. Only those cows are suitable for machine milking who have a bowl-shaped udder located at a distance of 40-60 cm from the floor. The length of the teat should be 5-9 cm, and the diameter should be 2-3.2 cm. All quarters of the udder should be well developed.

In the beginning, the cattle are taught to the noise of the electric milking machine and its appearance.During the preparatory period, cows continue to be milked by hand. The milking machine is connected only for 3-5 days. Machine milking should be done at the same time as manual milking. The interval between the milk sampling process must be at least 5 hours.

Before milking, check the operation of the equipment, the vacuum level, the frequency of pulsations. In cold weather, milking cups are warmed up. Before milking, the udder and teats are washed with warm water and patted dry with a towel. Before putting on the glasses, give 2-3 streams of milk (to stimulate the milk ejection reflex). The udder preparation process can take 30-60 seconds. Once the cow has milked, milking can begin.

Turn on the vacuum unit to the minimum pressure. The milking cups are taken by the collector with the left hand and brought to the udder, and each cup is put on the nipple with the right hand very quickly so that air is not sucked in. The pressure in the system is increased.

During the milking process, it is desirable to monitor the behavior of the cows, and how the milk flows through the hose into the can. In case of falling glasses, the technique is turned off, the glasses are rinsed and put on again. After milking, the apparatus is disconnected from the vacuum and the cups are removed one by one. It is recommended to flush all hoses in working order by pumping water. Milking machines used for milking cows at home save time. Milking takes about 7 minutes (instead of 30 minutes for manual milking).