Claims:
1. An apparatus 100 that enables automatic sampling of milk for analysis of its parameters, the said apparatus housing therein –
a sampling tank 106;
a computer 110;
an analysing means 112;
a microcontroller based electronic circuitry 114;
a collection tank 116;
a rejection tank 118
characterized in that a milk is sampled while it is poured in a sampling tank 106.

2. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein milk parameters comprise: Fat, SNF (Solid Non Fat), temperature and water content.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the parameters of milk are analysed in the analysing means 112.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein based on a Success or Failure of the analysis of the milk with respect to the parameters, the apparatus channelizes the milk to collection tank 116 or rejection tank 118 respectively.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the values of parameters of the milk in the analysing means 112 are configurable.

6. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein apparatus 100 has a provision to analyse and analyse buffalo or cow milk.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the computer 110 is capable of storing and sending transaction information to other metadata or repository.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein synthetic milk present in the sampled milk is detected by a testing component comprising an electrical heater and a colour sensing means.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the removal of air cavities present in the sampled milk is enabled by a stirring means.

10. A method 200 for automatic sampling for analysis of milk parameters, characterized in that the milk is sampled while it is poured in a sampling tank 106.

11. A method as claimed in Claim 10 wherein analysing of milk parameters comprise: Fat, SNF (Solid Non Fat), temperature and water content.

12. A method as claimed in Claim 11 wherein the parameters of milk are analysed in the analysing means 112.

13. A method as claimed in Claim 10 wherein based on a Success or Failure of the analysis of the milk with respect to the parameters, the method implements to channelize the milk to collection tank 116 or rejection tank 118 respectively.

14. A method as claimed in Claim 10 wherein the values of parameters of the milk in the analysing means 112 are configurable.

15. A method as claimed in Claim 10 wherein method enables to analyse and analyse buffalo or cow milk.

16. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the transaction history and details can be stored and sent to other metadata or repository by a computer 110.

17. A method as claimed in Claim 10 wherein synthetic milk present in the sampled milk is detected by a testing component comprising an electrical heater and colour sensing means.

18. A method as claimed in Claim 10 wherein the removal of air cavities present in the sampled milk is enabled by a stirrer means.

, Description:FORM 2

THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENT RULES, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(See Section 10 and Rule 13)

Title of invention:

AUTOMATED MILK ANALYSIS AND COLLECTION APPARATUS

APPLICANT:
Krishna Allied Industries Pvt Ltd.
A company registered under The Companies Act 1956 having address as
25A, Chandawadi
Opp Madhavbag Mandir & near Kothari Hospital
C P Tank Rd.,
Mumbai 400004

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND PRIORITY

[001] The present application does not claim priority from any patent application.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[002] The invention relates to the field of analysing materials by determining their chemical and physical properties. More particularly the invention relates to automatic handling of milk sampling and analysing; and based upon such test transferring it to either a collection or to a rejection tank.

BACKGROUND
[003] In traditional analysing system the milk to be analysed is handled manually by the person employed for handling. Each milk sample taken for use in determining the milk parameters may become a base for payment in buying or selling is the sole representative of all the milk to be sampled.
[004] Before sampling, a uniform mixture of milk and milk fat shall be obtained by complete manual or mechanical agitation. In all cases, agitation shall be continues until all cream has been detached from the walls of the can or tank holding the milk and all particles thereof have been broken up and evenly distributed throughout the milk.
[005] This whole procedure sometimes may get improper by the person authorized to do the sampling by collecting milk from the bottom or from the sides of the container which results in high fat content of the milk sampled. Also the procedure can be altered by collecting sample milk from the upper surface which contains less fat content. These cases occur when the agitation of milk is not properly done.
[006] These problems may occur due to natural human errors or also when the person who is authorized to handle the milk for analysing is acquainted to the milk lender so that he can lead with positive results to gain more credits and ultimately lead to corruption.
[007] In addition to above problems, the milk supplied may be adulterated by addition of white colour water paints, oils, alkali, urea and detergents and the like. This adulteration leads formation of synthetic milk. Synthetic milk is undesirable and not accepted by an individual. It may also prove hazardous for human health.
[008] Raw milk supplied by milk lender often contain air cavities in it which are difficult to remove by manual stirring. Presence of air cavities in milk gives faulty results from the analysing means.
[009] Automated handling of milk while analysing the milk ensures fool-proof results. The present invention may solve the long standing problem.

SUMMARY

[0010] Before the present systems and methods are described, it is to be understood that this application is not limited to the particular systems, and methodologies described, as there can be multiple possible embodiments which are not expressly illustrated in the present disclosures. It is also to be understood that the terminology used in the description is for the purpose of describing the particular versions or embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present application. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter nor is it intended for use in detecting or limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0011] In one embodiment, an apparatus that enables automatic sampling of milk for analysis of its parameters, the said apparatus housing therein a sampling tank; an analysing means; a microcontroller based electronic circuitry with relay and actuators; a collection tank; a rejection tank characterized in that a milk is sampled while it is poured in a sampling tank wherein milk parameters comprise: Fat, SNF (Solid Non Fat), temperature and water content. The parameters of milk are analysed in the analysing means. Based on the success or failure of the analysis of the milk with respect to the parameters the apparatus channelizes the milk to collection tank or rejection tank respectively. The values of parameters of the milk in the analysing means are configurable. The apparatus has a provision to test and analyse buffalo or cow milk.

[0012] In one implementation, a method for automatic sampling for analysis of milk parameters, characterized in that the milk is sampled while it is poured in a sampling tank. For automatic sampling for analysis of milk parameters, characterized in that the milk is sampled while it is poured in a sampling tank wherein analysing of milk parameters comprise: Fat, SNF (Solid Non Fat), temperature and water content. Based on the success or failure of the analysis of the milk with respect to the parameters the apparatus and method implement to channelize the milk to collection tank or rejection tank respectively. The invention enables to analyse buffalo or cow milk by setting up references by the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0013] The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer like features and components.
[0014] Figure 1 illustrates a complete apparatus in which various components of the apparatus are shown and their connections, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0015] Figure 2-A and 2-B illustrate a representation of the apparatus comprising its components and their arrangement, in accordance with the present subject matter.
[0016] Figure 3 illustrates the method for carrying out automatic analysing of milk by the said apparatus, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] The present subject matter may relate to an apparatus and method of analysing and collection of milk in an automated manner wherein one or more milk lenders may pour the milk in the container and after intermediate automated process the lender may get a printed slip with parameters and dairy settled price based on the quality and quantity of the milk he/she has brought.

[0018] Referring to figure 1, a concept for an apparatus for automatic sampling of milk for analysis of its parameters is disclosed, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus comprising a RFID (Radio Frequency Identity Device) sensing means, sampling tank 106, weighing means 108, computer 110 with display, a printer 120, analysing means 112, microcontroller based electronic circuitry with relay and actuators 114, collection tank 116, and rejection tank 118.

[0019] The RFID sensing means 104 may be implemented to recognise the lender and randomly access the lender’s transaction history. Apparatus may have a provision for the printing the history either for past ten days or for past ten transactions with respect to the lender. In one embodiment, based on radio frequency and protocol the RFID sensor may be low frequency (120–150 kHz), high frequency (13.56 MHz), near field communication or ultra-high frequency (433 MHz).

[0020] In an embodiment, apart from RFID means and RFID sensor means the milk lender may be also recognised by other means like biometrics, magnetic strips or the like means wherein a user may be recognised. Biometrics refers to technologies that measure and analyse human body characteristics, such as DNA, fingerprints, eye retinas and irises, voice patterns, facial patterns and hand measurements, for authentication purposes.

[0021] In one implementation, the sampling tank 106 may be a vessel provided for the lender to pour the milk brought by them. The weighing means 112 may be integrated with the sampling tank 106 to weigh the total quantity of milk. The computer 110 along with the display and printer 120 may be implemented for recording and processing the results made by the analysing means 112 which may sample and analyse a small quantity (05 ml-30 ml) of milk from the sampling tank 106. All the process may be driven and monitored by the microcontroller base electronic circuitry 114.

[0022] Sampling may be implemented while the milk is poured in the sampling tank 110. This sampling of milk may be performed by the apparatus 100 without any human intervention.

[0023] Analysis of milk is executed by analysing the parameters of the milk comprising Fat, SNF (Solid Non-Fat), temperature and water content in the analysing means 112.

[0024] While complete analysing of the milk, either of the two events may occur;
Success: If the milk parameters of the said milk fall in the range provided by the administrator of the collecting dairy authority then it may be channelized to collection 116.
Failure: If the milk parameters of the said milk fall out of the said range then it may be channelized to the rejection tank 118 and the lender is provided to collect the rejected milk.

[0025] The analysing means may comprise butyrometer, centrifuge, water bath, precision scale, appliances for sampling preparation, viscometer, thermometer, densitometer, refractometers, chemicals and the like.

[0026] In one embodiment, the analysing means may analyse parameters such as Fat, SNF (Solid non Fat), density, temperature, proteins, lactose, water content, solids and the like.

[0027] Technologies used in the analysing means may be infrared analysing, infrared spectrometry analysing, infrared absorption analysing and ultrasonic based analysing.

[0028] In an exemplary embodiment, the whole apparatus may be connected and controlled by a microcontroller 114 viz. Krishna Allied Industries Pvt. Ltd. Microcontroller board to communicate all other hardwires. This board runs with Atmel Atmega32 series 8 bit microprocessor with several discrete active and passive components.

[0029] A printed slip may be produced by the printer in which all the parameters of the milk along with the weight are represented and given to the lender as acknowledgment.

[0030] In one implementation, the computer 110 in the apparatus may be connected to a server over a network capable of sending information of the transactions details along with the quantity of the milk to the dairy main office or dairy repository or metadata. Simultaneously, the transaction details may also be sent by the computer 110 through a server to the respective banks for further reference of transaction protocols or payment architecture.

[0031] In another implementation, the display means may have an advertisement section on its screen. The advertisement may comprise information of a company, product, firm, industry, government protocols, statutory warnings instructions and the like.

[0032] In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus may provide an auxiliary testing component for testing adulteration in sampled milk. There may be instances in which the milk may be supplied in adulterated form by adding white water-colour paints, oils, alkali, urea, detergents and the like. This adulteration may form synthetic milk. Synthetic milk is undesirable and may also be hazardous to human health. The apparatus may house a testing component for testing of synthetic milk, the testing component comprising an electrical heater and a colour sensing means. A characteristic property of synthetic milk is that it turns yellowish in colour when heated. Detection of synthetic milk may be enabled by heating it and examining the change in colour. The colour of milk may be recorded before and after heating of milk. If change in colour of milk is observed above a threshold value then the apparatus may report the presence of synthetic milk. The whole process of heating and testing is performed automatic by the testing component with no human intervention. The electrical heater may comprise heating techniques comprising resistance heating or inductance heating and the colour sensing means may comprise a light to frequency convertor which may be a photodiode in series with a current to frequency converter like a Complimentary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor Circuit wherein the frequency is directly proportional to light intensity. The frequency along with light intensity is used to derive the colour of the milk which is performed by the testing component automatically.

[0033] In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus may also house a stirring means to remove the air cavities present in the raw milk. Milk provided by the lenders may contain air cavities in it, which may range from millimetres to micrometres. Presence of such air cavities leads to abnormal testing of milk parameters like fat, SNF, proteins and the like in the milk analysing means 112. Therefore removal of air cavities present within the milk is of utmost importance so as to get correct readings in the analysing means 112. The stirrer means may comprise an ultrasonic stirrer with a frequency lower than or equal to 20 KHz. This ultra-sonication process may remove the air cavities present in the sampled milk.

[0034] Referring to Figure 2, a representation of the apparatus comprising its components and their arrangement is disclosed, in accordance with the present subject matter. The figure 2 may comprise two views, Fig 2-A as front view and Fig 2-B as rear view. The apparatus may comprise a sheet between the front and rear side for its aesthetics, so that the wiring and other connection may not be viable. In one implementation, a RFID sensing means 104 may be attached at the front side of the apparatus and placed in a space where it can be accessed with ease. A sampling tank 106 may be present at the front side employed for sampling of milk and also for temporary collection. The sampling tank 106 may be situated at such height which is in compliance for pouring. The sampling tank 106 may be a bowl, a pot, a tank and the like capable of holding fluids. In addition to the sampling tank, a milk pouring tank 202 may be employed for further process of analysis of the said milk. The milk pouring tank 202 may be connected to a pump 204 with the help of tubes or pipes which may carry milk to analysing means 112. The analysing means 112 employed for testing parameters of milk comprising Fat, SNF (solid Non-Fat), Protein, Water content and the like.

[0035] In another implementation, on the event of a success or a failure of the analysis, there may be an arrangement in the milk pouring tank to channelize the milk to a collection tank 116 or a rejection tank 118 respectively. Channelizing may be executed by opening the valves in the milk pouring tank 202. The success event may open valve which access a channel to the collection tank 116 and the failure event may open the valve which access a channel to the rejection tank 118. The valves may operate with the help of a limit switch 206 of any types such as roller, lower plunger, whisker type and the like. The limit switch 206 may be driven by a motor 208 of any type.

[0036] The computer with display 110 may be present with the computer at the rear and display at the front for storage, processing or display purpose. In an embodiment, the display means along with the primary purpose of displaying the parameters and results of the analyzed milk, it is also employed for displaying advertisements. The advertisement may comprise information of a company, product, industry, government protocols, statutory warnings instructions and the like. The advertisements may be accompanied by audio files executed by a locally attached one or more speaker. In an implementations, the speaker 210 may also deliver messages from computer for various audio outputs like instructions, reading results and the like. The computer is also connected to a printer 120 present at the front which may print a slip wherein in all information comprising parameters of the milk, amount to be credited and others are represented. This slip may be a form of an acknowledgment for the milk lender.

[0037] In yet another implementation, a microcontroller based on electronic circuitry 114 may be connectively coupled with all the components of the apparatus so as to control and execute all the process in a specified order. There may be one or more switch(s) 212 for operating various components on the front side. The whole apparatus may be mounted on a strong foundation with supports such as a stand 214.

[0038] Referring to figure 3, a method 300 for execution of analysis and collection of milk is illustrated, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] At block 302, lenders who may be farmers, cattle hoarders and those who have milk producing animals or in some other ways have access to milk, may lend the milk to a dairy for income resource. The quality of the milk from each of the lender may not be same. Therefore a method is implemented to decide the creditworthiness of the milk by considering its parameters like fat and SNF (Solid Non Fat) content.

[0040] At block 304, the lenders may be categorized by providing them a RFID (Radio Frequency Identity Device) means 102 by which the apparatus can recognize the lender when the RFID means is read by a RFID sensing means 104. When the lender is recognised all the information such as statement of milk collection for the last ten days and for last ten transactions may be recalled.

[0041] In one embodiment, at block 306, the apparatus may first set to a reference for analysing a buffalo or cow milk as cow milk and buffalo milk differ in parameters like fat and SNF content milk and then the milk is poured in sampling tank 106.

[0042] At block 308, the total weight of the poured milk is sensed by weighing means 108 and is displayed by the displaying means. The method wherein while pouring the milk in the sampling tank 106, automatically collects sample of milk from the sampling tank 106 and sends it to the analysing means 112 where milk is analysed in parameters comprising fat, SNF, temperature or water content.

[0043] In one embodiment, the apparatus may automatically collects 20ml for the analysing of milk. The quantity of milk to be analysed is adjustable by the administrator of the apparatus.

[0044] In one exemplary embodiment, the milk sample analysed by the analysing means 112 may have a measuring cycle less than 40 seconds in order to get 90 to 94 measurements per hours. The range for measuring fat would be 0.5% to 12% with accuracy ±0.1%, for SNF it is 6% to 12% with accuracy ±0.2% and for water content it is 0% to 60% with accuracy of 5%.

[0045] The milk analysing means 112 may be automatic and delivers the results with acceptable accuracy and operates such that no human is accompanied with the analysing procedure.

[0046] In one implementation, at block 310, methods may have either of the two events

Success: If the parameters of the sampled milk are found in the acceptable range which may be set by the collecting authority the apparatus may automatically channelize the milk from the sampling tank 106 to the collection tank 116.
Failure: If the parameters of the sampled milk are found to be out of the acceptable range which may be set by the collecting authority then the milk may be channelized to a rejection tank 118 where the lender may collect back the rejected milk.

[0047] As the only and true way for buying or selling the milk may be by determination of the parameters of milk sampled and crediting it accordingly, at block 312, the apparatus may generate a printed slip containing the analysed parameters, weight of the total milk given and the amount to be credited to the lender for that current transaction. This slip is given to the lender for his acknowledgement purpose.

[0048] In one implementation, the milk lender may also attain his creditable amount by payments means other from hard cash. Other payment means comprise of net banking, debit card banking, card banking, computer or mobile application or software based transactions and the like. In another embodiment, the lender may be recognised by a bank card (debit card, ATM card, premium cards, Co-branded cards and the like) and make the deposits by various depositing means.

[0049] The apparatus totally states the automatic process from pouring the milk in the sampling tank 106 to crediting the lender based on the quality of the milk given by the lender. The intermediate steps of analysing the milk, displaying the parameters of the milk and channelizing of the milk either to collection tank 116 or rejection tank 118 is executed automatically.

[0050] The apparatus after analysing the milk and then channelizing either to collecting tank 116 or rejection tank 118. At block 314, may reset itself and refreshes to get ready to identify the next lender and analyse new milk.

[0051] In one embodiment, this whole process is controlled by Krishna Allied Industries Pvt. Ltd. Microcontroller board to communicate all other hardwires. This board is running with Atmel Atmega32 series 8 bit microprocessor with several discrete active and passive components.

[0052] Although the different non-limiting embodiments are illustrated as having specific components or steps, the embodiments of this disclosure are not limited to those particular combinations. It is possible to use some of the components or features from any of the non-limiting embodiments in combination with features or components from any of the other non-limiting embodiments.

[0053] It should be understood that like reference numerals identify corresponding or similar elements throughout the several drawings. It should be understood that although a particular component arrangement is disclosed and illustrated in these exemplary embodiments, other arrangements could also benefit from the teachings of this disclosure.

[0054] The foregoing description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense. A worker of ordinary skill in the art would understand that certain modifications could come within the scope of this disclosure. For these reasons, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this disclosure.