The milking machine is a nearly automatic machine installation for milking cows. The system consists of the cluster (the assembly that is manually attached to the cow), a milk tube, a pulse tube and pulsator, a vacuum pump or blower, and perhaps a recorder jar or milk meter that measures yield. Together, the system allows milk to flow into a pipeline in preparation for shipping to a processing plant. The cluster consists of teat cups, a shell and liner device that actually performs the milking action, and a claw or manifold that spaces the teat cups and connects them to the milk and pulse tubes. The milk tube carries the milk and air mixture away from the cow's udder to receiving tanks. The pulse tube, or airline, carries the varying air pressure from the pulsator device to the tanks, drawing the milk and fluids out of the cows as well. In operation, milk is drawn from the cow's teats because a vacuum is created within the cup device, forcing the milk through the teat canal. The pulsator alternates the pressure, first creating a vacuum (milk phase), and then applying air, which causes the flexible liner in the cup to collapse and massage the teat (rest phase). The alternating process of milk-and-rest is continued in a rhythmic pattern for the cows' health and good milk productivity. Milking machines are used to harvest milk from cows when manual milking becomes inefficient or labour intensive. The milking unit is the portion of a milking machine for removing milk from an udder. It is made up of a claw, four teat cups, (Shells and rubber liners) long milk tube, long pulsation tube, and a pulsator. The claw is an assembly that connects the short pulse tubes and short milk tubes from the teat cups to the long pulse tube and long milk tube. (Cluster assembly) Claws are commonly made of stainless steel or plastic or both. Teat cups are composed of a rigid outer shell (stainless steel or plastic) that holds a soft inner liner or inflation. Transparent sections in the shell may allow viewing of liner collapse and milk flow. The annular space between the shell and liner is called the pulse chamber.

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ABSTRACT
The milking machine is a nearly automatic machine installation for milking
cows. The system consists of the cluster (the assembly that is manually attached to
the cow), a milk tube, a pulse tube and pulsator, a vacuum pump or blower, and
perhaps a recorder jar or milk meter that measures yield. Together, the system
allows milk to flow into a pipeline in preparation for shipping to a processing
plant.
The cluster consists of teat cups, a shell and liner device that actually
performs the milking action, and a claw or manifold that spaces the teat cups and
connects them to the milk and pulse tubes. The milk tube carries the milk and air
mixture away from the cow's udder to receiving tanks. The pulse tube, or airline,
carries the varying air pressure from the pulsator device to the tanks, drawing the
milk and fluids out of the cows as well.
In operation, milk is drawn from the cow's teats because a vacuum is created
within the cup device, forcing the milk through the teat canal. The pulsator
alternates the pressure, first creating a vacuum (milk phase), and then applying air,
which causes the flexible liner in the cup to collapse and massage the teat (rest
phase). The alternating process of milk-and-rest is continued in a rhythmic pattern
for the cows' health and good milk productivity.
Milking machines are used to harvest milk from cows when manual milking
becomes inefficient or labour intensive. The milking unit is the portion of a
milking machine for removing milk from an udder. It is made up of a claw, four
teat cups, (Shells and rubber liners) long milk tube, long pulsation tube, and a
pulsator. The claw is an assembly that connects the short pulse tubes and short
milk tubes from the teat cups to the long pulse tube and long milk tube. (Cluster
assembly) Claws are commonly made of stainless steel or plastic or both. Teat
cups are composed of a rigid outer shell (stainless steel or plastic) that holds a soft
inner liner or inflation. Transparent sections in the shell may allow viewing of liner
collapse and milk flow. The annular space between the shell and liner is called the
pulse chamber.

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CONTENT
SR.NO. TITLE PAGE NO.
1 History 3
2 Introduction 4
3 Equipments of milking
machine
6
4 Working 13
5 Flow chart 17
6 Cost Analysis 18
7 Advantages 19
8 Limitations 20

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HISTORY
 Early attempts at milking cows involved a variety of methods. Around 380
B.C., Egyptians, along with traditional milking-by-hand, inserted wheat
straws into cows' teats.
 Suction was first used as a basis for the mechanized harvesting of milk in
1851, although the attempts were not altogether successful, drawing too
much blood and body fluid congestion within the teat.
 To encourage further innovations, the Royal Agricultural Society of England
offered money for a safe, working milking machine. Around the 1890s
Alexander Shiels of Glasgow, Scotland, developed a pulsator that alternated
suction levels to successfully massage the blood and fluids out of the teat for
proper blood circulation.
 That device, along with the development of a double-chambered teat cup in
1892, led to milking machines replacing hand milking. After the 1920s
machine milking became firmly established in the dairy industry. Today, the
majority of all milking is processed by machine.
FIG.1.1.TRADITIONAL MILKING PROCESS

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INTRODUCTION
 The milking machine plays an important role on the dairy farm as an
efficient means of milking cows; however, it must be remembered that this
machine is one of the few devices which has direct contact with living
animal tissue.
 A milking operation which results in discomfort to the cow and is caused by
faulty milking equipment or techniques may lead to injury or mastitis.
 Consequently, before a person attempts to milk cows he/she should
thoroughly understand the basic operation of the milking equipment and
fully realize the significance of maintaining the equipment in good condition
at all times and of employing good milking techniques.
 This fact sheet describes the basic operations involved to help give a better
understanding of milking machines.
FIG2.1.MILKING MACHINE PROCESS
 The principles of machine milking were established many years ago and the
basic method described below, is used in virtually all commercial milking
machines although in a minority some modifications are made.
 The teat cup liner is the only equipment that comes into contact with the
cows teats. The continuous vacuum within the liner causes the teat duct
(streak canal) to open and the milk to flow because of the pressure difference
between the milk in the teat and vacuum.

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 To prevent damage or pain to the teat that would be caused by the
continuous vacuum a system called pulsation is used.
 This makes the liners collapse on and below the teats about once each
second massaging the teat and maintaining a more normal blood flow. In
each pulsation cycle milk does not flow from the teat when the collapsed
liner squeezes the teat duct.
 Providing the cows ‘let down’ (ejection) has occurred the flow rate from the
teat depends largely on the bore of the teat duct which is an inherent factor
and not subject to management practices or training.
 Flow rates are also influenced by the mechanical properties of the milking
machine. After the teat cups have been attached the flow rate reaches a
maximum in about one minute, usually within the range of 2–5 kg/minute
and the total milk flow period will range from 2 to about 8 minutes
depending upon milk yield.
 Flow rates decline at the end of milking and when flow ceases there is
usually a small amount of milk trapped in the sinus of the udder which can
be removed by pulling ownwards on the clawpiece and massaging the udder
(ie. machine stripping).
 With modern designs of liner the quantity of strippings is small (ie. less than
0.3 kg) and machine stripping is not usually practiced. The small amounts of
milk that are left do not affect milk yield or the average chemical
composition of the milk obtained or mastitis.

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MILKING MACHINES AND EQUIPMENTS
The basic layout of the three main types of milking machines are the same.
Each has a pump to remove air from the vacuum pipeline, a vacuum regulator and
a container to collect the milk that comes into the teat cup assembly during
milking.

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(b) Milking pipeline (cowshed and parlour)
 Basic construction
 The principle of machine milking is to extract milk from the cow by
vacuum. The machines are designed to apply a constant vacuum to the end
of the teat to suck the milk out and convey it to a suitable container, and to
give a periodic squeeze applied externally to the whole of the teat to
maintain blood circulation.
 A milking machine installation consists of a pipework system linking
various vessels and other components which together provide the flow paths
for air and milk. The forces necessary to move air and milk through the
system arise from the fact that it is maintained at a vacuum.
 Thus it is atmospheric pressure which forces air, and intra-mammary milk
pressure which forces milk, into the system and the combination of these
forces causes flow. To be a continuous operation it is necessary to remove
air and milk from the system at appropriate rates.
 Although milking machines have now developed into systems that show
considerable diversity they have the same basic components.
 The air is removed by a vacuum pump at a constant rate.

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 In a bucket or direct-to-can machine milk is removed from the system by
disconnecting the milk container; in milking pipeline and recorder machines
the milk is removed by a milk pump or releaser.
 Fig. 1 shows the flow of air and milk through three basic types of machine
during normal milking. In the bucket (or direct-to-can) machine the milk
enters the teat cups and travels through the short milk tubes to the claw
where air is admitted and the milk and air travel along the long milk tube to
the bucket (or can).
 The milk remains in the bucket (or can) and the air separates to pass up the
vacuum tube to the vacuum pipeline.
 The pulsator which is usually fixed on the bucket lid admits air
intermittently and this passes along the long pulse tube to the teat cup
chambers.
 To control the vacuum at a predetermined level air is also admitted to the
system through a vacuum regulator which is fitted on the vacuum pipeline
near to the milking points.
 VACUUM AND MILK FLOW
 When the milk from the claw is raised to a pipeline this can markedly reduce
the vacuum at the teat because of the weight of milk in the long milk tube.
 The reduction in vacuum can be much reduced by bleeding air through a
small hole in the clawpiece.

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 In addition to the designed sources of air admission, air can be drawn into
the teat cups past the teat and also when a milk container is changed or
emptied.
 In a poorly maintained machine there may also be inward leakage of air at
joints or points of damage. To maintain the working vacuum the vacuum
pump extracts the air admitted into the system by compressing it so that it
can be discharged to atmosphere.
 In pipeline milking machines the flow pattern is similar to the bucket
machine except that milk and air from each claw flow either directly to a
recorder vessel where air and milk are separated, and/or through the milking
pipeline to a common receiver vessel where milk and air are separated.
 There is no further air admission at this point when a motor driven releaser
milk pump is used to empty the receiver. Other types of releaser (eg.
pulsator controlled spit chamber and double chambered weight operated)
admit air.
 Where air and milk are transported together the flow pattern becomes
complex depending on various factors particularly the volume of air relative
to milk or air:milk ratio. Air is normally admitted in to the claw at a rate of 4
to 8 l/min. A milk flow rate for a fast milking cow will be about 6 l/min,

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giving an air: milk ratio of 0.7:1 to 1.2:1. Towards the end of milking when
the milk flow rate has decreased to 0.25 l/min the ratio becomes 16:1 to
32:1.
 The air:milk ratio becomes important where milk has to be elevated from the
claw as in milk pipeline and recorder machines other than those with low
level milk pipelines. Elevating a liquid, as distinct from a gas, involves a
loss of potential energy and this is compensated for by a change of vacuum.
Thus elevating a column of milk in a vacuum system through 1 m height
reduces the vacuum by about 10 kpa. Therefore if the vacuum at the top of
the column is 51 kpa it will be only 41 kpa t the bottom. This vacuum drop
is markedly reduced by the admixture of air. If the air:milk ratio is 1:1 the
weight of milk in the column is halved and the vacuum drop becomes only 5
kpa; if it is 9:1 the vacuum drop is only 1 kpa.
 Under vacuum liquids cannot flow against gravity (i.e. uphill) except as a
column which fills the bore of the tube. Where the tube contains air and milk
the liquid forms plugs which are separated by pockets of air in the
proportion determined by the air:milk ratio.
 VACUUM MEASUREMENT
 Vacuum is a pressure below atmospheric pressure.
It can be measured as pressure difference with a mercury manometer in mm Hg
(see diagram). The standard pressure is now kilopascals (kPa) with 100 kPa equal

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to the pressure difference between atmospheric pressure and absolute vacuum.
 MEASUREMENT OF VACUUM
 Vacuum is a pressure below atmospheric pressure, the term “negative
pressure” is sometimes used but in milking machine terms it may be
considered to mean “vacuum” measured on a scale in which atmospheric
pressure at the time and place of measurement is zero vacuum.
 Vacuum can be measured in a variety of units. A commonly used measure is
the linear difference in height between two columns of mercury in a ‘U’ tube
when one of the columns of mercury is subjected to a vacuum and the other
open to atmosphere. (see diagram of ‘U’ tube). The difference in height of
the levels is supported by atmospheric pressure.
 In the past the most commonly used units have been inches, millimeter’s or
centimeters of mercury (in Hg, mmHg or cm Hg). Units now adopted by the
International Standards Organization (ISO) for International Standards of
milking machines for vacuum measurement are kilopascals (kPa) with zero
(0) kPa being equal to atmospheric pressure and 100 kPa absolute vacuum.
Equivalent relationships for values of vacuum levels are:-

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1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa
1 in Hg = 3.386 kPa
 Equivalents for vacuum levels of 50 kPa and 44 kPa that are the most
commonly used levels for milking cows:
50 kPa = 14.8 in Hg = 375 mmHg
44 kPa = 13.0 in Hg = 330 mmHg
 ACTION OF THE MILKING MACHINE IN EACH PULSATION
CYCLE
 Pulsator connects pulsation chamber to vacuum, liner opens and milk flows.
 Pulsator connects pulsation chamber to atmosphere, liner collapses, squeezes
the teat duct and prevents milk flow.

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 MILKING RATE
 Milk flow from the teats increase with:
 Increasing vacuum but strippings also increase.
(Normal vacuum range 40–50 kPa).
 Increasing pulsation rate but this increases air to be pumped from the
machine.
(Normal rates 50–60 cycles/min)
 Widening pulsation ratio, i.e. liner open to liner collapse time.
(Normal range 50/50 to 70/30)
 TEATCUP LINERS
 Teat cup liners have important effects on milk flow and completion of
milking.
 the liner mouthpiece affects the quantity of strippings.
 Narrow bore (<24 mm) and low tension (stretch) milk more slowly.
 Choose liners appropriate for the size of cow’s teats to be milked.

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Working of Machine
 We developed an elaborate, refined milking machine that can milk cows and
buffaloes using a set of reciprocating vacuum pumps with a vacuum gauge, a
suction assembly unit and an air bubble free well gasketed milk canister to
receive the milk.
 The suction assembly has two sub-assemblies with a set of nipples and
stainless steel plate on one side and transparent conduit pipes and a regulator
valve on the other.
 Each of the sub-assemblies is taken apart for cleaning before and after every
milking operation. The udder and teats of the cow are also washed with cold
water and wiped using cotton cloth.
Fig. Working of milking machine

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 The hand lever attached to the pumping unit is cranked till a vacuum of 200-
250 inches is created in the suction–nipple unit.
 This is attached to the udders and the milk gets deposited in the receiving
canister via the transparent conduit pipes. When air bubbles flow along with
the milk, the operation is stopped and on gently pressing the top of the teats,
the teats get released.
 The control valve and vacuum pressure gauge, located on the main pumping
unit, control the suction circuit and the milk receiving canister via the
transparent conduit pumps.
 The four nipple suction configuration can alternate pulsations between two
sets for the operation for facilitating milk flow and reducing milking time.
 Functions of Machine
The milking machine performs two basic functions:
1. It causes milk to flow from a teat by exposing the teat end to a partial
vacuum.
2. It massages the teat in an effort to relieve the effects of a continuous milking
vacuum.
All milker units operate in basically the same way and consist of the
following components:
1. Pulsator
2. Teat cup shells and liners (inflations),
3. Milk receptacle:
o bucket
o Teat-cup claw (attached to a floor pail
milker or to a pipeline).
 The basic operation of the milker unit is
shown in fig. 1.and 2. As the pulsator operates, it
causes the chamber between the shell and the
liner to alternate regularly from vacuum to air
source. It should be kept in mind that the inside ofFigure 1

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the teat-cup liner is under a milking vacuum at all times. Thus when air is
admitted between the shell and liner (Fig. 1) the line collapses around the
cow's teat. The pressure of the collapse liner is applied to the teat giving a
massaging action. This is called the rest or massage phase. Milk does not
flow from the teat during this phase.
 During the milk phase (Figure 1), the space between the liner and the shell is
exposed to the vacuum by way of the pulsator. The fact that there is now
equal pressure on both sides of the liner causes it to open. The end of the
cow's teat exposed to the vacuum and the influence of internal milk pressure
within the cow's udder causes the milk to be drawn out through the teat
opening.
*Source:-http://www.classes.ansci.uiuc.edu/ansc438/Mastitis/milkmachine.html
 Teat-cup Shells and Liners (Inflations)*
 Many types of teat-cup shell and liner combinations are available. Make sure
that the shell and liner are compatible. For instance, make sure that the liner
has enough room inside the shell so that it can fully collapse without hitting
the inside walls.
 Choose a liner that has a mouth piece which helps prevent downward
slippage or riding-up action on the base of the udder. To reduce teat and
udder irritation, the use of narrow to intermediate bore liners is
recommended. If a herd is presently being milked with a wide-bore style
liner and one wishes to change to a narrow-bore liner, be conscious of the
following facts:
1. Many drop-offs may be
experienced at first until you
relearn how to handle the
milker units, such as putting
less tension on the units, etc.
2. Slower milking may be
experienced on some cows at
first.
Figure 2

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3. Some long, flabby teats of cows may never be able to adapt to the narrow-
bore style.
*Source: -
http://www.genusbreeding.co.uk/content.output/42/179/Udder%20Care/Milking%
20Systems%20Services/Milking%20Machine%20Testing.mspx
 Softness of Liner
 The liners (inflations) should be replaced as recommended by the
manufacturer. A liner should be replaced immediately if it becomes
damaged.
 The general recommendations for changing liners are as follows:
synthetic rubber 1,000 - 1,200 cow milkings
more natural rubber 500 - 700 cow milkings

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Clean the milk can, inside of teat adapter cluster
Close the milk can & ball valve of teat adapter cluster
Hold the teat adapter cluster in one hand and sit on the
machine & operate the machine handle to & fro until
vacuum gauge shows 200 to 250 reading
Prepare cow for milking by cleaning and massaging the
udder
Hold the teat adapter cluster on right hand and insert the
teats into teat liners of teat adapter
Press the teat adapter cluster against the udder
Slowly open the ball valve of teat adapter cluster and teat
adapters clutch the udder of animal
Leave teat adapter cluster to hang on udder and start
operating the machine handle to & fro very gently
Watch milk flow in transparent pipe. Operate the machine
continuously until milk flow in transparent pipe atop
After milk is completely drained hold the teat adapter
cluster and close the ball valve
Insert finger in between teat liner & teat. The teat adapter
cluster declutches
Milk
another
animal
End Process
YES NO
Flow Chart showing steps for Hand operated Milking
machine

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Cost Analysis
Sr.No Part name Quantity Cost
1 Teat Cup 2 180
2 Vaccum Tube 2 240
3 Vaccum Gauge 1 320
4 Non Return Valve 1 220
5 Pump
(PVC Pipe and Accessories)
1 350
6 Stand 1 275
Total 8 1585

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Advantages of milking machine
 Clean & hygienic milk collection.
 Save labor & time (4minutes for Cow, 7 minutes for Buffalo).
 Can be operated by unskilled persons.
 Low cost, easy maintenance and low running cost & for Hand operated
milking machine electricity is also not required.
 Simulates suckling action of calf.
 Removes all milk from udder.
 Gives uniform pressure on teats and helps to overcome mastitis.
 100% safety for animal.
 Easy carrying handling & operation.
 Easily transferable.
 Benefits of the Milking machine for Cows / Buffalos
1. While milching with the help of the machine no nails are pinched in the teats
of animal as when the milching is done with the help of hands it happened.
2. Milching process becomes easy & it causes no harm or any kind of problem
to the animal.
3. No insects would sit on the teats of the animal as the teats are being covered
with the help of cluster.
 Benefits of the Milking machine for the User
1. With the use of machine productivity of the milk increases, because prior to
that milching was done with the help of hands and it took a lot of time & due
to that hands of the person who is milching the animal also starts paining
and after a while he stops milching the animal & because of that some milk
remains in the teats of the cows.

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2. No, problem of skilled labor, as the milching process is done by the skilled
person only but the machine can be used by a person who is not skilled also
3. Saving in time, as the milching process when done by hands used to take
approximately 3o minutes to milch 6-7 liters of milk but with the help of
machine it just takes 3-4 minutes to milch the animal.
4. Fat content in the milk increases, so with this there is also increase in the
income of the farm owner as the payment for the milk is always related to
the volume produced and in most cases also influenced by the quality of the
milk measured in some way.
 Benefits of the Milking machine for the Dairy Owners
1. With the use of machine the productivity of the milk increases for the farm
owner & due to this the milk supplied to them also increases, ultimately
there is increase in their production also.
2. Now, the milk which they are supplied has more fat content in it & is also
bacteria free milk.
Limitations
 In this machine milking is possible when the cow is in stable position.
 Cleaning is required after every time when the milking is done.

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References
 http://www.genusbreeding.co.uk/content.output/42/179/Udder%20Care/Mil
king%20Systems%20Services/Milking%20Machine%20Testing.mspx
 http://www.classes.ansci.uiuc.edu/ansc438/Mastitis/milkmachine.html
 http://www.americanartifacts.com/smma/milker/milker.html
 http://www.milkproduction.com/Library/Articles/Milking_machine_use_and
_maintenance.html
 www.agricultureinformation.com.
 BAIF Development Research Foundation, Pune
 http://www.raw-milk-facts.com/dairy_cow_breeds.html
 http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/jayarajvet-104080-buffalo-
breeds-india-animal-education-ppt-powerpoint.

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