阅读说明：本技术 用于给家畜喂养含全脂奶的饮品的系统 (System for feeding livestock with a beverage containing whole milk ) 是由 汉斯·约阿希姆·霍尔姆 汉斯-约阿希姆·劳厄 于 2019-09-13 设计创作，主要内容包括：用于给家畜喂养含全脂奶的饮品的系统,其中所述系统具有以下内容：全脂奶仓库(12),其具有用于容纳全脂奶储备的全脂奶罐(18)和取出管路(26)；用于准备饮品配给量的准备单元(14),所述准备单元具有全脂奶输送管路(62)、饮品配给量容器(70)和排出管路(72)；连接管路(38),所述连接管路将取出管路与全脂奶输送管路连接；吸嘴(16),其与排出管路连接；净化单元(10),其具有用于容纳净化剂的净化剂容器和净化剂输送装置,利用所述净化剂输送装置能够将净化剂从净化剂容器输送给全脂奶罐；以及控制器(94),所述控制器构成用于,这样操控净化单元和准备单元以用于实施净化过程,使得净化液从全脂奶罐中出来通过连接管路引导到准备单元中。(A system for feeding livestock a full fat milk-containing drink, wherein the system has the following: a whole milk storage (12) having a whole milk tank (18) for containing a supply of whole milk and a withdrawal line (26); a preparation unit (14) for preparing a beverage ration, the preparation unit having a whole milk delivery line (62), a beverage ration container (70) and a discharge line (72); a connecting line (38) connecting the withdrawal line with the whole milk delivery line; a suction nozzle (16) connected to the discharge line; a cleaning unit (10) having a cleaning agent container for receiving a cleaning agent and a cleaning agent delivery device, by means of which the cleaning agent can be delivered from the cleaning agent container to the full-fat milk tank; and a control unit (94) which is designed to control the cleaning unit and the preparation unit for carrying out a cleaning process in such a way that cleaning fluid is guided out of the whole milk container through the connecting line into the preparation unit.)

1. System for feeding livestock with a beverage containing whole milk, wherein the system has the following features:

a whole milk storage (12) having a whole milk tank (18) for accommodating a whole milk reserve and a withdrawal line (26),

a preparation unit (14) for preparing a drink ration, the preparation unit having a whole milk delivery line (62), a drink ration container (70) and a discharge line (72),

a connecting line (38) connecting the withdrawal line (26) with the whole milk delivery line (62),

a suction nozzle (16) connected to the discharge line (72),

a decontamination unit (10) having at least one decontamination agent container (40) for accommodating a decontamination agent and a decontamination agent delivery device,

a whole-fat milk storage (12) having two whole-fat milk tanks (18), the removal line (26) having two removal line sections (28) each having a discharge valve (34) and being connected to one of the two whole-fat milk tanks (18),

a cleaning agent can be supplied from the at least one cleaning agent container (40) to the two full-fat milk tanks (18) by means of a cleaning agent supply device, and

the cleaning liquid is guided from one of the two full-fat milk tanks (18) via a connection line (38) to the preparation unit (14) by means of a control device (94) which is designed to actuate the cleaning unit (10), the preparation unit (14) and the outlet valve (34) for carrying out a cleaning process.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece (16) is connected to the outlet line (72) via a suction line (74), a branch line (76) branches off from the suction line (74) at the branching point, a pump (78) being provided in the branch line, and the controller (94) is designed to actuate the preparation unit (14) and the pump (78) such that, during the cleaning process, cleaning liquid is conducted from the whole milk delivery line (62) through the drink dosing container (70), through the outlet line (72), through the suction line (74) to the branching point and then through the branch line (76).

3. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a level sensor (32) and/or an empty reporter is arranged in the withdrawal line (26).

4. System according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the cleaning unit (10) has a water connection (46, 50) and a cleaning line (44) which leads from the water connection (46, 50) to the full-fat milk tank (18), the cleaning agent delivery device having a pump (42) with which cleaning agent can be pumped from the at least one cleaning agent container (40) into the full-fat milk tank (18) and/or the cleaning line (44).

5. System according to claim 4, characterized in that the purge line (44) is connected to a nozzle (60) arranged in the full-fat milk tank (18).

6. System according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a first circulation line (80) is present, which leads from the withdrawal line (26) to the full-fat milk tank (18) and in which a circulation pump (82) is arranged, so that the cleaning liquid can be led back into the full-fat milk tank (18).

7. System according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the whole milk storage (12) has heating and/or cooling means, heat insulators (24) and/or stirrers (20).

8. System according to claim 7, characterized in that the heating means of the whole milk storage (12) are configured for heating the whole milk in one of the two whole milk tanks (18) to a pasteurization temperature and to be kept at the pasteurization temperature for a predetermined time, respectively.

9. The system according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the controller (94) is configured for, in accordance with a schedule, automatically carrying out the purging process and taking into account a predicted need for one of the two whole-fat milk tanks (18) that is empty at a first purging moment, (i) predetermining the filling quantity (102, 106) such that the filling quantity is sufficient up to a second purging moment after the first purging moment, and/or (ii) predetermining the filling moment (t5) such that, when the one of the two whole-fat milk tanks (18) is filled at the latest at the filling moment (t5), whole-fat milk is available in the one of the two whole-fat milk tanks (18) before the other of the two whole-fat milk tanks is empty.

10. System according to claim 9, characterized in that the controller (94) is configured for taking into account the time required for pasteurization of the whole milk, which can be carried out either in one of the two whole milk tanks or in an external pasteurization device, at the predetermined filling time (t 5).

11. System according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the purge line (44) at the branching point (54) branches into two purge line sections (56) which each have a non-return valve (58) and lead to one of the two full-fat milk tanks (18).

12. System according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a whole milk pump (66) and/or a heating device (68) is provided in the whole milk delivery line (62), with which the liquid delivered through the whole milk delivery line (62) can be tempered before filling the drink dosing container (70).

13. The system according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the controller (94) has a notification unit (96) which is configured for notifying a user of the status of the system by means of display and/or by sending an electronic message.

14. The system according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the controller (94) has a recording unit (98) which is designed to record the purging process.

15. System according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the cleaning agent delivery device has a separate cleaning agent line (108), via which cleaning agent can be delivered from the at least one cleaning agent container (40) to the preparation unit (14) while bypassing the whole milk storage (12), and the control unit is designed to automatically carry out a cleaning of the preparation unit (14) according to a predetermined schedule, into which cleaning the whole milk storage (12) is not included.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a system for feeding livestock a beverage containing whole milk. For feeding livestock, such as calves, lambs or piglets, automatic beverage machines are used which prepare a beverage ration of a tempered beverage. The beverage may be made by mixing milk powder substitute (MAT) with water. It is also possible to feed with whole milk or a mixture of whole milk, milk replacer and water. Hygiene plays a particularly great role when using drinks containing whole milk. If a reserve tank is used in order to provide full fat milk, the reserve tank must be periodically purged. The same applies to all other elements in contact with the whole milk, such as the ducts and valves of the automatic beverage machine and the ducts leading from the automatic beverage machine to the extraction station and/or the mouthpiece.

Background

In order to simplify the required purification measures, automatic beverage machines are known which can carry out an automatic purification. For this purpose, the elements of the automatic beverage machine are flushed, if necessary, with the addition of a cleaning agent. During such a purging phase, the automatic beverage machine cannot provide a beverage and the mouthpiece has to be separated from the automatic beverage machine, for example by closing a valve.

Such an automatic beverage machine is known from document DE 102011009076B 3. Said automatic beverage machine additionally has a full-fat milk container and corresponds to the features of the preamble of claim 1.

Feeding systems with an elevated arrangement of a single full-fat milk tank are known from patent US 4803955. From the whole milk tank, the milk passes through a heat exchanger into a drink dosing container arranged below. For cleaning, a cleaning agent can be injected into a water line which leads to a nozzle arranged in the full-fat milk container.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is to provide a system for feeding livestock with a drink containing whole milk, which system can be purified more simply and has a high availability.

The object is solved by a system having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the dependent claims. The system is used for feeding livestock with a beverage containing whole milk and has the following characteristics:

a whole milk warehouse with a whole milk tank for containing a whole milk reserve and a take-out line,

a preparation unit for preparing a drink ration, the preparation unit having a full milk delivery line, a drink ration container and a discharge line,

a connecting line connecting the withdrawal line with the whole milk delivery line,

a suction nozzle connected to the discharge line,

a cleaning unit having a cleaning agent container for receiving a cleaning agent and a cleaning agent delivery device with which a cleaning agent can be delivered from the cleaning agent container to the full-fat milk tank, and

a control unit, which is designed to control the cleaning unit and the preparation unit for carrying out the cleaning process in such a way that the cleaning liquid is guided out of the full-fat milk tank via the connecting line into the preparation unit.

The whole milk warehouse is used to store and provide a reserve of whole milk. The whole milk storage has for this purpose a whole milk tank with a capacity of, for example, at least 50l, at least 100l or 150l or more. The whole milk can be removed from the whole milk tank through a removal line. The full-fat milk container may have a closable lid, so that it can be simply filled after removal of the lid.

The function of the preparation unit may substantially correspond to the function of an automatic beverage machine. The preparation unit prepares a drink ration accordingly, which is provided to the livestock through the mouthpiece. As is known in connection with automatic beverage machines, a beverage ration can be prepared uniquely for a determined domestic animal, for example on the basis of identification of the animal by means of an identification device. It is also possible to prepare drink rations determined accordingly for a plurality of livestock. The preparation unit can have a storage container for milk replacer and a water connection, so that a beverage containing full-fat milk, which additionally contains milk replacer and water, or a full-fat milk-free feed with milk replacer and water, can be mixed in the beverage dosing container. The preparation unit may have a water line connected to a water connection, the water line including a one-way valve, the water line leading into the whole milk delivery line. Water and whole milk can then be injected into the drink dosing container through the same line, if necessary.

The beverage ration is provided through the discharge line. The whole milk component processed in the drink ration is delivered to the preparation unit through a whole milk delivery line. The whole milk conveying pipeline is connected with a taking-out pipeline of the whole milk warehouse through a connecting pipeline. This connection may be implemented differently depending on the design of the system. The whole milk storage and the preparation unit may for example be arranged in a separate housing. In this case, the free ends of the removal line and the whole milk delivery line may have couplings or other connecting means, which are, for example, arranged and/or fastened on the respective housing. The connecting line is then a separate line, the ends of which are connected to the respective connecting means. However, it is also possible for the connecting line to merge seamlessly into the removal line or the whole milk supply line at one of its ends or at both of its ends. This solution is provided in particular in the case where the whole milk storage and the preparation unit are arranged in one common housing.

The suction nozzle can be arranged in particular in the extraction station or in the extraction station. It is also possible to connect the discharge line to a plurality of suction nozzles and/or extraction stations.

The system according to the invention comprises a purification unit which can be assigned to the whole milk storage and/or arranged in a housing of the whole milk storage, in particular. The cleaning unit has at least one cleaning agent container and a cleaning agent delivery device, by means of which cleaning agent can be delivered to the full-cream milk container. The whole milk container can thus be cleaned by means of the cleaning agent.

Furthermore, the invention provides a control unit with which the cleaning unit and the preparation unit are actuated for carrying out a cleaning process, so that cleaning fluid is conducted out of the whole milk container through the connecting line into the preparation unit. For this purpose, the detailed control of which elements of the purification unit and the preparation unit are controlled by the controller depends on the design of the respective unit in question. In particular, it is provided that the control unit actuates, in particular actuates, a cleaning agent supply device of the cleaning unit in such a way that a defined quantity of cleaning agent is introduced into the full-fat milk tank. In particular, valves and/or delivery devices outside the cleaning process can be actuated in the preparation unit, i.e., when a drink dose is to be prepared, the transfer of the whole milk from the whole milk delivery line into the drink dose container can be effected. The beverage dosing container may also be referred to as a mixing container.

A discharge valve may be provided in the withdrawal line. The outlet valve can also be actuated by the control unit in order to carry out the cleaning process. Thus, in this case the controller also operates the elements of the whole milk warehouse.

The present invention has a number of important advantages with respect to the automatic cleaning, which is limited by automatic beverage machines, known from the prior art. First, all the elements in contact with the whole milk "upstream" of the discharge line, including the whole milk tank, the withdrawal line, the connection line and the whole milk delivery line, can be automatically purged. Thus, no additional manual cleaning of these elements is required, which leads to a significant simplification of the cleaning process.

Second, the inevitable down time due to the purging is reduced to a minimum by the unified purging process. In particular, no additional downtime occurs during the separate cleaning of the whole milk storage and/or the connecting lines. It is also not necessary to separate the elements from one another and then to connect them again for manual cleaning. Thereby achieving a high availability of the system.

Third, a particularly economical and environmentally friendly use of the cleaning agent is achieved, since the cleaning liquid which has been produced in the full-fat milk tank with the cleaning agent is not discarded after cleaning of the full-fat milk tank, but rather is used continuously for cleaning of the connecting lines and the preparation unit.

In one embodiment, the mouthpiece is connected to the outlet line via a suction line, wherein a branch line branches off from the suction line at a branching point, in which a pump is arranged, wherein the control unit is designed to actuate the preparation unit and the pump in such a way that, during a cleaning process, cleaning fluid is conducted from the whole milk supply line through the drink dosing container, through the outlet line, through the suction line to the branching point and then through the branch line. The branch line may have an open end, which may be disposed, for example, above the discharge opening. The branching point can be arranged close to the suction nozzle, so that the suction line is completely or almost completely enclosed by the automated cleaning.

In one embodiment, a fill level sensor and/or an empty reporter are arranged in the removal line. The level sensor or empty reporter is connected to the controller so that the controller can be used to perform the decontamination process only in empty full fat milk tanks. Furthermore, the amount of cleaning liquid in the full-fat milk tank can be monitored and/or controlled during the cleaning process by means of the liquid level monitoring.

In one embodiment, the cleaning unit has a water connection and a cleaning line leading from the water connection to the full-fat milk container, and the cleaning agent delivery device has a pump, with which cleaning agent can be pumped from the cleaning agent container into the full-fat milk container and/or into the cleaning line. The pump is connected to and operated by the controller to input the desired amount of cleansing agent into the full fat milk tank. Furthermore, the water connection may be provided with a valve which is also connected to the controller, so that the controller may also control the water supply into the full fat milk tank.

In one embodiment, the purge line is connected to a nozzle arranged in the full-fat milk container. Thereby, the bottom, the walls and/or the lid of the full fat milk tank may be sprayed with the cleansing liquid, so that a thorough cleansing can be achieved, however with a small consumption of water and cleansing agent. It goes without saying that a plurality of such nozzles can be connected to the purge line if necessary.

In one embodiment, a first circulation line is provided, which leads from the removal line to the full-fat milk tank and in which a circulation pump is arranged, so that the cleaning liquid can be fed back into the full-fat milk tank. The circulation pump can likewise be connected to and controlled by a controller. Repeated thorough flushing of the full-fat milk tank and the withdrawal line can then be carried out during the described purging process. It is also possible that a second circulation line is present, through which the purified liquid can be led back from the drink dosing container into the whole milk delivery line. A valve and/or a second circulation pump may be provided in the second circulation line, wherein the valve and/or the second circulation pump may likewise be connected to and controlled by the control unit. The cleaning process can then be carried out automatically in such a way that the preparation unit is optionally also rinsed thoroughly a number of times.

In one embodiment, the whole milk storage has a heating and/or cooling device, a heat shield and/or a stirrer. The full fat milk tank may for example have a wall comprising an insulating layer. The heating and/or cooling device can have an electric heater in the wall of the full-fat milk container or in the receiving space of the full-fat milk container and/or a heating and/or cooling coil through which a hot or cold liquid can be conducted. The heating and/or cooling coil may also be arranged in a wall of the full-fat milk container or in a receiving space of the full-fat milk container.

By means of said measures, the storage of the whole milk in the whole milk storage can be achieved under optimized conditions. In particular, it is achieved that the germ count of the whole milk is kept small by sufficient cooling. The full-fat milk tank may be provided with a temperature sensor which detects the temperature of the full-fat milk present in the full-fat milk tank and which is connected to the controller. The heating and/or cooling means and/or the stirrer may be connected to and controlled by a controller. Thereby, the controller may on the one hand create desired storage conditions for the whole milk by mixing and/or cooling the whole milk, and on the other hand assist the purge process by activating the whisk during flushing of the whole milk tank.

In one embodiment, the heating device of the whole milk storage is designed to heat the whole milk in the whole milk container to a pasteurization temperature and to keep it at the pasteurization temperature for a predetermined time. Further, the cooling device of the whole milk warehouse may be configured to cool the whole milk to a temperature required for storage for a predetermined time. For pasteurization, the control can also be connected to and operated in a suitable manner by a heating and/or cooling device. In combination with the temperature sensor, the controller can then control the desired course of the temperature change by operating the heating or cooling device on the basis of the detected temperature. Thus, separate pasteurization of the whole milk prior to injection into the whole milk tank may be dispensed with, thereby further simplifying whole milk feeding.

In one embodiment, the whole-fat milk storage has two whole-fat milk containers, wherein the removal line has two removal line sections, each of which has a discharge valve and is connected to one of the two whole-fat milk containers. A three-way valve is included which selectively connects one of the two withdrawal line sections with the following section of the withdrawal line. All the features described above for the full-fat milk containers may be implemented in each of the two full-fat milk containers; each of the two full-fat milk containers may have, for example, a stirrer, a heating and/or cooling device, an insulator and/or a closable lid, etc. By using two whole milk tanks, the whole milk warehouse may continuously provide whole milk. After the purging process involving one of the two whole-fat milk containers, the whole-fat milk may be provided, in particular immediately, from the other whole-fat milk container before the now-purged whole-fat milk container is refilled. The usability of the system is thereby further increased and the user gains significant flexibility with regard to the filling moment. Furthermore, during the automatic purging, at least one of the two full-fat milk tanks and the removal line section and the connecting line assigned to the full-fat milk tank are purged. Thus, no additional manual cleaning is required in the case of two full-fat milk containers. The two outlet line sections each have a discharge valve, by means of which the supply of the whole milk from the respective whole milk tank or the cleaning liquid present in the whole milk tank to the preparation unit via the connecting line can be controlled. The two outlet valves can likewise be connected to and controlled by the controller. The two outlet line sections can merge at a branching point and lead there directly to a connecting line or to a common (third) outlet line section. Alternatively, each of the two withdrawal line sections may be provided with a level sensor and/or an empty reporter, as explained above for the withdrawal line. The above-described embodiments for feeding a cleansing agent and water into the full-fat milk tanks apply correspondingly to each of the two full-fat milk tanks.

In one embodiment, the controller is designed to automatically carry out the purging process according to a time schedule and, taking into account the predicted demand, to predetermine the filling quantity for an empty full-fat milk container at a first purging time such that the filling quantity is sufficient up to a second purging time at the first purging time. By timetable is meant in particular at a predetermined moment (for example at 6: 00 o 'clock and at 18: 00 o' clock) or at a predetermined period of time (for example every 12 hours). The predicted demand may be, for example, manually entered or otherwise predetermined by the controller. In particular, the predicted demand may be determined by the controller, for example, based on the amount of drinking prepared by the preparation unit in a previous time period. For this purpose, in particular the drinking volume in a time period of the preceding day/preceding days corresponding to the predicted time period can be taken into account. By predetermining the filling quantity for future time periods taking into account such a demand forecast, it can be ensured that: the reserve of whole milk, which is then injected by the operator into the previously empty whole milk tank according to the filling quantity, meets the demand in the future time period. In addition to the predicted demand, the liquid level in the respective other full-fat milk tank can be taken into account when predetermining the filling quantity. In general, it is achieved that after the injection of a predetermined filling quantity, the livestock can be supplied without interruption until the next decontamination process.

In a further embodiment, which may alternatively or additionally be the above-mentioned predetermination of the filling quantity, the controller is configured to automatically carry out the purging process according to a time schedule and to predetermine the filling time taking into account a predicted need for one of the two full-fat milk tanks that is empty at the first purging time in such a way that, when the one of the two full-fat milk tanks is filled at the latest at the filling time, a full-fat milk reserve is still present in the one of the two full-fat milk tanks before the other of the two full-fat milk tanks is empty. The predetermined filling moment may be displayed to the user on a display, for example. By predetermining the latest filling moment, it is in practice facilitated to achieve a continuous availability of the whole milk. While avoiding unnecessary early filling and thereby resisting contamination.

In one embodiment, the control device is designed to take into account the time required for pasteurization of the whole milk, which can be carried out either in one of the two whole milk containers or in an external pasteurization device, at the predetermined filling time. The time required can be determined on the basis of data relating to a previous pasteurization process, or the time required can be determined computationally, in particular taking into account a predetermined filling quantity. If pasteurization is provided in the full-fat milk container, the pasteurization can be started by the controller at the calculated filling moment. If an external pasteurization device is provided for pasteurization, for example a continuous pasteurizer (durchlaufpasteuriser), the pasteurizer can be connected to the control unit via a communication interface, and the control unit can initiate continuous pasteurization at the calculated filling time. In each case, the timely provision of a pasteurized whole milk stock is significantly simplified and unnecessary early pasteurization is avoided, which may lead to a higher germ load.

In one embodiment, the purge line branches at a branching point into two purge line sections, each of which has a non-return valve and leads to one of the full-fat milk tanks. The two non-return valves are each connected to and actuated by a control unit, so that during the cleaning process, which of the two full-fat milk tanks the cleaning agent is fed into, can be controlled by the control unit. A three-way valve is also included here.

In one embodiment, a whole milk pump and/or a heating device is provided in the whole milk line, with which the liquid conveyed through the whole milk line can be tempered before filling the beverage dosing container. The heating device may be a boiler, in particular. With this solution, the whole milk is brought to the desired drinking temperature immediately before it is provided in the drink dosing container. Another advantage is that the whole milk pump and the heating device are involved in an automatic cleaning process.

In one embodiment, the control unit has a notification unit which is designed to notify the user of the state of the system by means of a display and/or by sending an electronic message. The status may include, for example, one or more of the following information: the liquid level in the full-fat milk tank, the liquid level in the purging agent container, the temperature or temperature change in the full-fat milk tank, the deviation of the measured values from the theoretical values, the implementation and/or when to implement the purging process, the implementation and/or when to implement pasteurization, or the filling quantity determined by the controller. This information can either be shown on the system using a display or can be sent to the user as electronic information, in particular by email, SMS or through a social network. With this information, feeding is further simplified for the user.

In one embodiment, the controller has a recording unit which is designed to record the purging process. Alternatively or additionally, the recording unit can be designed to record the pasteurization process. By means of the recording unit it can be verified in any case that the system is properly cleaned or that the whole milk fed has been pasteurized as specified. For this purpose, the controller can store and/or provide corresponding relevant information for later evaluation.

In one embodiment, the cleaning agent delivery device has a separate cleaning agent line via which cleaning agent can be delivered from the at least one cleaning agent container to the preparation unit while bypassing the whole milk storage, and the controller is designed to automatically carry out a cleaning of the preparation unit according to a predetermined schedule, the whole milk storage not being involved in the cleaning. Purging the preparation unit may optionally include all of the line sections from the preparation unit up to the suction nozzle. The separate purification agent line can, for example, open into the drink dosing container or into a water line leading to the drink dosing container. The schedule may for example specify the purging of the preparation unit at fixed time periods, for example always 12 hours after a previous purging. This embodiment takes into account that the preparation unit should be purged more often than the whole milk tank in certain applications, in particular when storing whole milk in the whole milk tank cool, which can usually be unproblematic for 24 to 48 hours. In particular, the full-fat milk container can be decontaminated on a time schedule and/or always when the full-fat milk container is empty, wherein, as explained above, the preparation unit and, if necessary, other components of the system are included in the decontamination. Additional cleaning of the standby unit can be carried out as required without emptying the full-fat milk tank concerned for this purpose.

Drawings

The invention is illustrated in more detail below with the aid of examples. In the figure:

figure 1 shows schematically a system for feeding livestock a beverage containing whole milk, an

Fig. 2 shows a diagram of the time profile of the liquid level in two full-fat milk tanks of the system in fig. 1.

Detailed Description

The system for feeding livestock with a beverage containing whole milk in fig. 1 has a purification unit 10, a whole milk storage 12, a preparation unit 14 and a mouthpiece 16. The whole milk warehouse 12 comprises two whole milk tanks 18, each having a capacity of at least 150 l. Each of the two full-fat milk tanks 18 has a stirrer 20, a heating/cooling coil 22 and an insulator 24.

The removal line 26 of the whole milk storage 12 comprises two removal line sections 28, which are each connected to one of the two whole milk tanks 18 and in which a filling level sensor 32 and a discharge valve 34 are each arranged. The ends of the removal line sections 28 remote from the respective full-fat milk containers 18 open into a common removal line section 30 at a branching point 36. At the end of the common removal line section 30 remote from the branching point 36, the removal line 26 is connected to or merges into a connecting line 38.

In fig. 1, a purification unit 10 is present above the whole milk storage 12, which purification unit can be integrated into a housing (not shown) of the whole milk storage 12. The purification unit 10 has three purification agent containers 40, each of which contains one purification agent. Each of the decontamination agent containers 40 is assigned a pump 42, with which a dose of decontamination agent emerging from the respective decontamination agent container 40 into a decontamination line 44 can be dispensed.

The end of the purge line 44 shown on the left in fig. 1 is connected via a non-return valve 48 to the cold water connection 46 and via a non-return valve 52 to the hot water line 50. The other end of the purge line 44 leads to a branching point 54, at which the purge line 44 branches into two purge line sections 56. A non-return valve 58 is provided in each of the purge line sections 56. The free ends of the purge section 56 are connected to a plurality of nozzles 60, respectively, disposed in the full-fat milk tank 18. In this way, with the non-return valves 48, 56 closed, hot water can be injected, for example, into the full-fat milk container 18 shown on the left in fig. 1 by opening the non-return valve 52 and the non-return valve 58, if necessary with simultaneous addition of a cleaning agent in one of the cleaning agent containers 40 by appropriate actuation of the associated pump 42. The cleansing liquid is then first present in the full-fat milk tank 18 concerned.

The end of the connecting line 38 remote from the removal line 26 is connected to a whole milk supply line 62, in which an inlet valve 64 is arranged. Furthermore, the preparation unit 14 comprises a whole milk pump 66 which is connected to the whole milk supply line 62 and which can supply the liquid present in the whole milk supply line 62 to a drink dosing container 70 through a heating device 68.

Starting from the beverage dosing container 70, the outlet line 72 of the preparation unit 14 leads into a suction line 74 which is connected to the mouthpiece 16. A branch line 76, in which a pump 78 is arranged, branches off at a branching point, not shown, in the intake line 74 immediately before the mouthpiece 16.

Fig. 1 also shows a first circulation line 80, in which a first circulation pump 82 is arranged. The first circulation line 80 starts from the common removal line section 30 and leads into the purge line 44 immediately before the branching point 54. Also shown is a second circulation line 84 in which a one-way valve 86 is disposed and which leads from the beverage dosing container 70 back into the whole milk delivery line 62. The cold water connection 88 is connected to the whole milk delivery line 62 via a line 90 in which a one-way valve 92 is provided. Through which conduit 90 cold water can be delivered for mixing the drink ration.

A separate purge line 108 connects the purge line 44 to the whole milk feed line 62 at a point downstream of the intake of the line 90 (with which cold water can be fed into the whole milk feed line 62).

Finally, the system in fig. 1 has a controller 94, which is connected to each of the valves and each of the pumps via connections not shown. Furthermore, a control 94 is connected to the two stirrers 20, to the heating device 68 and to the fill level sensor 32.

The controller 94 is configured to implement an automated decontamination process. For this purpose, in a first step, as explained above, the whole milk tank 18 containing the respective purge is filled with a purge liquid. To this end, the controller 94 operates one or both of the one-way valves 48, 52 on the water connections 46, 50 and at least one of the pumps 42. The outlet valve 34 assigned to the whole-fat milk container 18 and the inlet valve 64 are then opened by the controller 94, and the whole-fat milk pump 66 is actuated by the controller 94, so that the purging liquid is conducted from the relevant whole-fat milk container 18 via the outlet line 26, the connecting line 38 and the whole-fat milk supply line 62 into the drink dosing container 70. Then, by operating the pump 78 by the controller 94, the cleaning liquid is conducted from the drink dosing container 70 through the discharge line 72, the intake line 94 up to the branching point before the mouthpiece 16 and from there onwards through the branching line 76, in order to also incorporate these elements into the cleaning.

The notification unit 96 and the recording unit 98, which satisfy the above-described functions, are only schematically shown. The notification unit and the recording unit may be integrated into the controller 94 or connected thereto as shown in fig. 1.

Next, the time course using the system in fig. 1 is exemplarily elucidated with the aid of fig. 2. This illustration applies not only to the system in fig. 1, but also independently of the constructional details of the system. The illustration is equally applicable to other systems according to the invention comprising two full-fat milk containers 18. The upper illustration of fig. 1 shows the liquid level of the left full-fat milk tank 18 (also referred to below as tank 1) in fig. 1, and the lower illustration shows the time profile of the liquid level of the full-fat milk tank 18 (also referred to below as tank 2) shown on the right in fig. 1.

The time axis extends horizontally and comprises three times t1, t2 and t3, at which time an automatic cleaning process is carried out in each case, said cleaning process involving one of the two full-fat milk containers 18. These purification processes are illustrated by three arrows. As the diagram shows, at time t1 the tank 2 is empty and there is a residual amount 100 in the tank 1, which in the example should be 100 l.

The controller 94 determines that there may be a demand of 250l up to the purge time t2 based on the consumption of the corresponding previous day period. Taking into account this predicted demand and the remaining quantity of 100 and the safety margin of 50l, the controller 94 gives a filling quantity 102 of 250 l-100 l +50l for the tank 2 of 200l at time t 1. This filling quantity 102 is injected into the tank 2 by the operator at a time t4 several hours after the time t 1. At the same time, the supply of full milk from tank 1 for preparation unit 14 continues, as illustrated by the slowly decreasing liquid level shown. At time t5, tank 1 is empty and the supply to standby unit 14 is switched to tank 2 virtually without interruption by closing one of discharge valves 34 and opening the other discharge valve 34.

An automatic purge is then performed according to a predetermined schedule at time t2, this time including tank 1 in the purge. While it is determined that there is a remaining amount 104 of 150l in the tank 2. Based on the predicted 280l demand and 50l safety margin until the time t3 for the next planned purge, the controller 94 determines that the fill volume 106 for tank 1 is 280 l-150 l +50 l-180 l. The user injects this filling quantity into the tank 1 at the time t 6. Later at time t7, canister 2 is empty and the supply to standby unit 14 is switched over to canister 1. The described process is repeated to the next purge time t 3. It goes without saying that the calculation of the filling quantity need not necessarily be carried out at the time of purging.

List of reference numerals

10 purification unit

12 Whole milk warehouse

14 preparation unit

16 suction nozzle

18 full cream milk pot

20 stirrer

22 heating/cooling coil

24 heat insulator

26 draw line

28 take out line segment

30 common withdrawal line section

32 liquid level sensor

34 discharge valve

36 branch point

38 connecting line

40 purifying agent container

42 pump

44 purge line

46 cold water joint

48 one-way valve

50 hot water joint

52 one-way valve

54 branch point

56 purge line section

58 check valve

60 spray nozzle

62 whole milk conveying pipeline

64 inlet valve

66 full cream milk pump

68 heating device

70 beverage ration container

72 discharge line

74 suction line

76 branch lines

78 Pump

80 first circulation line

82 pump

84 second circulation line

86 one-way valve

88 cold water joint

90 pipeline

92 one-way valve

94 controller

96 notification unit

98 recording unit

100 residual amount

102 filling amount

104 remaining amount

106 filling amount

108 separate scavenger lines.