Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080236509 | INSTALLATION FOR SUPPLYING LIQUID FEED TO AN ANIMAL AND AN AUTONOMOUSLY DISPLACEABLE VEHICLE FOR USE IN SUCH AN INSTALLATION - An installation for supplying liquid feed to an animal, such as a calf. The installation comprises one or more feed loading places ( | 10-02-2008 |
20080251022 | METHOD OF AND AN INSTALLATION FOR MILKING AN ANIMAL - A method of milking an animal comprises determining the identity of the animal and discharging the milk obtained by milking the identified animal to a storage container. The identity of the animal is determined after connecting a teat cup to a teat of the animal or after confining the animal in a milking place and before discharging the milk to the storage container. An installation for milking an animal is provided with a determination device for determining the identity of the animal, a transport arrangement for transporting milk to a storage container for storing the milk and with a control unit for controlling the determination device and the transport arrangements. The control unit is programmed for additionally determining the identity of the animal after connecting a teat cup to a teat of the animal or after confining the animal in a milking place and before discharging the milk to the storage container. | 10-16-2008 |
20080251024 | Assembly of Milking a Robot With a Milking Robot Feeding Place, Such as a Milking Robot Feed Trough, and a Device For Gripping and Displacing Material, Such as For Example Roughage and/or Concentrate For Animals - An assembly of a milking robot with a milking robot feeding place, such as a milking robot feed trough, and a device for gripping and displacing material, such as for example roughage and/or concentrate for animals. The device is provided with a gripper ( | 10-16-2008 |
20080289667 | TEAT CUP CLEANING DEVICE AND METHOD RELATED THERETO - A teat cup cleaning device having a heating chamber ( | 11-27-2008 |
20080314323 | Method of Automatically Milking a Dairy Animal - A method of automatically milking a dairy animal by means of an automatic milking device is disclosed. The method may include successively the steps of:
| 12-25-2008 |
20090069968 | UNMANNED AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE FOR DISPLACING FEED - An unmanned autonomous vehicle for displacing feed lying on a floor is provided with two wheels that are separately drivable, a distance determining device for determining the distance from the vehicle to a wall portion, an orientation determining device for determining the orientation of the centre line of the vehicle relative to the wall portion, a torque difference determining device for determining the torque difference between the wheels, a control unit for controlling the vehicle and moving it in a direction of travel, and a feed displacing arrangement for displacing feed substantially sidewardly. The control unit may be programmed in such a way that during operation the vehicle will maintain a distance determined by the distance determining device to the wall portion, which distance is greater than or equal to a pre-adjusted minimum distance to the wall portion. During operation the centre line of the vehicle may be maintained with an orientation determined by the orientation determining device relative to the wall portion, which orientation is at least almost equal to a pre-adjusted orientation. During operation the drivable wheels of the vehicle may show a torque difference determined by the torque difference determining device, which difference can then be maintained at a value smaller than or equal to a pre-adjusted maximum torque. | 03-12-2009 |
20090133635 | METHOD OF AND AN INSTALLATION FOR FEEDING AN ANIMAL IN A FEEDING BOX - A method of feeding an animal in a feeding box. The method comprises at least the following steps, the steps a-c not necessarily taking place in the given sequence: a) identifying the animal in the feeding box, b) closing the feeding box, in such a way that access to the feeding box is impeded for an animal outside the feeding box, c) supplying feed to the animal in the feeding box in a chosen eating period of time. An installation for feeding an animal, which installation is provided with a frame that encloses at any rate at least partially a frame area. A neutral position means for positioning a passage means into one particular neutral position. | 05-28-2009 |
20090308327 | APPARATUS FOR DISPLACING OBJECTS, AN ASSEMBLY OF SUCH AN APPARATUS AND A STABLE - An apparatus for displacing objects. The apparatus comprises a displaceable support and a holding device for holding objects that is fastened to the support ( | 12-17-2009 |
20100006034 | UNMANNED VEHICLE FOR SUPPLYING FEED TO AN ANIMAL - An unmanned vehicle for supplying feed to an animal, which is provided with a frame, with propulsion mechanism disposed thereon, feed supplier for supplying feed and navigator connected to the propulsion mechanism with a sensor for forming an image of an observation area, wherein the sensor comprises: a source of radiation for emitting modulated electromagnetic radiation, a receiver device for radiation reflected by an object, comprising a matrix with rows and columns of receivers, an optical device and sensor image processor configured to determine for the receivers a phase difference between the emitted electromagnetic radiation and the reflected electromagnetic radiation in order to calculate a distance from the receiver to the object. Through use of the unmanned vehicle device an excellent and reliable navigation is possible, so that, for example, milk can be conveyed efficiently from a milking implement to a calf. | 01-14-2010 |
20100006127 | UNMANNED VEHICLE FOR DISPLACING DUNG - An unmanned vehicle for displacing material, in particular dung, from the floor of a shed includes a frame, with disposed thereon a material displacer, propulsion mechanism and navigator with a sensor for forming an image of an observation area, the sensor including a source of radiation for modulated electromagnetic radiation, a receiver device for electromagnetic radiation reflected by an object in the observation area, and a sensor image processor, wherein the receiver device includes a matrix with a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns of receivers, and the sensor image processor is configured to determine for each of the receivers a phase difference between the emitted and the reflected electromagnetic radiation in order to calculate a distance from the receiver to the object. Such a vehicle is capable of detecting and displacing material in a very reliable manner by utilization of the depth image obtained by the sensor. | 01-14-2010 |
20100017035 | ASSEMBLY OF A MILKING ROBOT WITH A MILKING ROBOT FEEDING PLACE, AND A DEVICE FOR GRIPPING AND DISPLACING MATERIAL - The invention provides a device for gripping and displacing material, provided with a gripper, comprising controller for the gripper and a sensor for forming an image of an observation area, which sensor is connected to the controller, wherein the sensor comprises a source of radiation for modulated electromagnetic radiation, a receiver device for radiation reflected by an object, comprising a matrix of receivers, an optical device for displaying the reflected radiation on the receiver device, and sensor image processor in order to determine for each receiver a phase difference between the electromagnetic radiation emitted and the electromagnetic radiation reflected in order to calculate a distance from the receiver to the object. A device equipped with such a sensor is capable of functioning in a very reliable, safe and multifunctional manner, because it is capable of processing spatial images during operation. The invention also provides an assembly of the device and a feeding place, in particular of a milking robot and a milking robot feeding place. | 01-21-2010 |
20100031891 | DEVICE FOR DISPENSING FEED - A device is provided for dispensing feed to feed troughs for animals such as cows. In one embodiment, the feed troughs are separate from the frame. Furthermore, the frame may be provided with a number of storage boxes for storing a supply of feed. The storage box has an outlet. The feed can be removed from the storage box via the outlet. The device furthermore comprises a conveying device for conveying feed from the storage boxes to respective feed troughs. The conveying device comprises a receptacle or container for temporarily accommodating feed. This receptacle is movable along a guide provided on the frame. The receptacle is movable from a position downstream of the outlet of the storage box to positions upstream of the respective feed troughs. The guide comprises at least two tracks, which extend substantially parallel to one another. As a result, a stable guide for the receptacle can be provided along which the receptacle is movable. | 02-11-2010 |
20100049392 | SYSTEM FOR DEMARCATING AN AREA - A system for demarcating an area comprises a first vehicle, an attachment point, a demarcating element, a motor and a vehicle control unit. The demarcating element extends from the first vehicle to the attachment point. The system furthermore comprises a camera, which camera is operatively connected to the vehicle control unit. | 02-25-2010 |
20100064974 | ASSEMBLY FOR FEEDING AND MILKING ANIMALS, AND A METHOD OF FEEDING AND MILKING ANIMALS - An assembly and method for feeding and milking animals is disclosed. The assembly is provided with an area where the animals are allowed to move freely, with a number of juxtaposed feeding stations for the animals, and with a retaining device for retaining an animal at a feeding station. The retaining device can be activated for retaining an animal and can be deactivated for releasing an animal. A mobile milking robot connects at least one teat cup to a teat of an animal, a computer system controlling the operation and movement of the milking robot. The mobile milking robot is a self-propelled mobile milking robot, and the retaining device is fixedly disposed at the feeding station. | 03-18-2010 |
20100065801 | MOBILE SUPPORT, ASSEMBLY WITH A FIRST AND A SECOND MOBILE SUPPORT AND TERRAIN DEMARCATION - A mobile support for supporting a wire-shaped terrain demarcation on an area of ground, having a plurality of segments rotatable about an axis. Each segment comprises a spoke having a free end, wherein at least one segment has a greater flexibility in an axial direction than in a direction tangential to the axial direction. | 03-18-2010 |
20100076641 | UNMANNED VEHICLE FOR DISPLACING MANURE - An apparatus and method for an unmanned vehicle for displacing manure includes navigating an unmanned vehicle, further including detecting an animal, determining whether a current course of the unmanned vehicle will lead to a collision with the animal. If this is the case, the method continues by: determining at least a first priority parameter from a set of priority parameters, wherein the first priority parameter is a standing condition of the detected animal, deciding, on the basis of the set of priority parameters, whether the course of the unmanned vehicle will be adjusted to avoid the animal, wherein the course will be maintained if the set of priority parameters meets a predetermined collision criterion, and the course will be adjusted to avoid the animal if the set of priority parameters does not meet the predetermined collision criterion, wherein the set of priority parameters only meets the collision criterion if at least the standing condition is that the animal is standing. | 03-25-2010 |
20100077960 | SYSTEM FOR DEMARCATING AN AREA - A system for demarcating an area comprises a movable demarcating element, and a control system for determining the magnitude and/or the moment of a next move of the movable demarcating element. The system furthermore comprises one or more observation devices for observing an entity near the movable demarcating element, such as a position of a dairy animal or an amount of grass in the area. The observation devices are operatively connected to the control system for transmitting a signal from the observation means to the control system. The control system is designed to receive and process the signal from the observation means to determine the magnitude and/or the moment of the next move of the movable demarcating element. | 04-01-2010 |
20100126423 | Feed displacement device and an assembly therewith - The invention provides a feed displacement device for picking up, displacing and dispensing material, in particular livestock feed, including a rail system and a trolley with a gripping device, which trolley is movable over the rail system, and is configured to pick up and dispense the material, wherein the rail system includes a fixed rail part and a displaceable rail part which is connectable to the latter, wherein the trolley is movable directly over the fixed and displaceable rail parts, and in such a manner that the trolley can cover a surface area for picking up the material from various positions. The trolley is easily positionable over an area where material, such as feed, is to be picked up. As a result thereof, no robot arm or the like has to swing out sideways and thus no unnecessarily large forces act thereon. In addition, the device overall is compact since the trolley is in effect displaceable in two directions by combining the displaceability along the displaceable rail part and the displaceability of the displaceable rail part itself. | 05-27-2010 |
20100154722 | SYSTEM FOR AND METHOD OF MANAGING A GROUP OF ANIMALS - A system for and method of managing a group of animals include a control system, a camera operatively connected to it for forming a depth-image of at least one animal, and an animal management or actuator mechanism operatively connected to the control system. The control system compares information regarding the depth-image formed by the camera with reference information regarding the animal, generates control information on this basis, and sends the control information to the animal management or actuator mechanism. The camera includes an emitting source of electromagnetic radiation, a matrix with a plurality of rows and columns of receivers for receiving radiation reflected from the animal, a lens for displaying the reflected radiation on the receivers, and a sensor controller operatively connected to the source of radiation in order to modulate the radiation and determine for each of the receivers a phase difference between the emitted and the reflected radiation. | 06-24-2010 |
20100186675 | IMPLEMENT FOR AUTOMATICALLY MILKING A DAIRY ANIMAL - An implement for automatically milking a dairy animal, such as a cow, comprises a milking parlour, a sensor for observing a teat, and a milking robot for automatically attaching a teat cup to the teat. The milking robot comprises a robot control that is connected to the sensor. The sensor comprises a radiation source for emitting light, a receiver for receiving electromagnetic radiation reflected from the dairy animal, a lens, and sensor control unit. The sensor comprises a matrix with a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns of receivers. The sensor control unit is designed to determine for each of the receivers a phase difference between the emitted and the reflected electromagnetic radiation in order to calculate the distance from the sensor to a plurality of points on the part to be observed of the dairy animal. | 07-29-2010 |
20100192862 | MILKING IMPLEMENT - The present invention provides for a milking implement for automatically milking a dairy animal. The implement includes a measuring device for measuring a position of an object such as at least one of a displaceable element of the milking implement and a teat of the dairy animal, and a control device for controlling at least the measuring device. The control device is configured to take at least one measurement, using the measuring device, on at least one point on the object in order to obtain a position information regarding the object, compare the obtained position information with a known position information regarding the object, and calibrate the measuring device on the basis of the comparison between the obtained position information and the known position information. | 08-05-2010 |
20100230183 | Unmanned autonomous vehicle for displacing feed - An unmanned autonomous vehicle for substantially lateral displacement of feed lying on a ground, comprising two wheels separately drivable by separate drive units, a torque difference adjusting device for adjusting the torque difference between the wheels, a control unit for controlling the vehicle and moving it in a direction of travel by controlling at least one of the separate drive units, a feed displacing device for substantially lateral displacement of the feed, and an adjusting device which is arranged to adjust the height and/or the position of a lowest point of the feed displacing device. The adjusting device comprises a vehicle tilting device which is arranged in such a manner that the lowest point will be located at least substantially off the center line of the vehicle. | 09-16-2010 |
20100326361 | MILKING DEVICE - The present invention provides a milking device including a carrier with a holder for at least one milking cup, the milking cup being connected to a discharge line and provided with a cup axis, wherein the holder forms a seating for keeping the milking cup in a standby position in a removable manner, wherein the milking cup is attached to an elongate flexible hauling-in member for pulling the milking cup towards and onto the seating after a milking operation, wherein an upper section of the milking cup is provided with an opening for receiving a teat, wherein the milking cup, in a bottom section, engages with the hauling-in member at a first location, and wherein the bottom section is formed by an end body having a downwardly projecting contact part, a bottom end which extends next to and below the first location. | 12-30-2010 |
20100326363 | FEED WAGON FOR FEEDING ANIMALS SUCH AS COWS - A feed wagon for feeding animals such as cows comprises an autonomous vehicle, a container for containing feed, wherein the container has at least one aperture for filling and emptying the container, and a connection between the autonomous vehicle and the container. The container is substantially cylindrical and rotatable about its axial axis, the container having an operative position for receiving and/or mixing feed and an unloading position for unloading the feed. The connection between the autonomous vehicle and the container comprises a tilt axis, the cylindrical container being tiltable about the tilt axis between the operative position and the unloading position relative to the autonomous vehicle. The invention further comprises a system for feeding animals such as cows, comprising such a feed wagon. | 12-30-2010 |
20110011344 | COMBINATION OF A TEAT CUP AND A FLEXIBLE MILK TUBE, A COUPLING PIECE, AND A METHOD OF MONITORING THE INTEGRITY OF THE FLEXIBLE MILK TUBE - A combination of a teat cup and a flexible milk tube is shown. The flexible milk tube has a main duct and a plurality of secondary ducts for discharging milk from the teat cup and for applying vacuum in the teat cup. The main duct is confined by a duct wall extending around the main duct. The secondary ducts are included in the duct wall of the main duct. By including the plurality of secondary ducts in the duct wall of the main duct the flexible milk tube as a whole has a smaller cross-section than that of the known milk tube. The plurality of secondary ducts no longer need separate duct walls forming separate tubes either connected or not with the flexible milk tube comprising the main duct. This results in space saving. | 01-20-2011 |
20110023787 | DEVICE FOR FEEDING ANIMALS - Device for feeding animals, including a frame with a feed holder for a feeding site for an animal, wherein the frame is provided with a restricting device for restricting in at least two opposite lateral directions a dwelling space for an animal using the feeding site, also provided with means for keeping animals located outside the dwelling space at a distance from the restricting device. | 02-03-2011 |
20110048329 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING A MILKING IMPLEMENT, A SOFTWARE PROGRAM FOR AND AN IMPLEMENT PERFORMING THE METHOD - Method of controlling a milking implement for automatically milking a dairy animal with an udder, such as a cow, which milking implement comprises a camera and a teat cup, which method comprises the following steps:
| 03-03-2011 |
20110083700 | TEAT CUP CLEANING DEVICE AND METHOD - A teat cup cleaning device comprises a heating chamber provided with a discharge outlet that is closable by a valve and arranged for connection to a teat cup. A filling device is arranged for filling the heating chamber with an amount of cleaning liquid and retaining a given quantity of gas. The chamber is provided with a heating arrangement arranged to heat the contents of the heating chamber to a temperature T higher than the boiling point Tk of the cleaning liquid at ambient pressure. On operation of the valve superheated cleaning liquid is discharged to clean a teat cup. | 04-14-2011 |
20110107865 | DAIRY ANIMAL TREATMENT SYSTEM - The invention provides a dairy animal treatment system with a controllable robot arm which is configured for positioning an animal treatment device, and with an object recognition device which comprises a controllable light source, a first 3D-sensor and a signal processing device for processing the supplied signals, wherein the object recognition device comprises a second 3D-sensor which is positioned at a distance from the first 3D-sensor, in particular at a horizontal distance. The respective central lines and preferably make an angle unequal to 0° with each other. The system according to the invention has advantages including less mutual concealment of objects in the respective image fields and, and a strongly increased total angle of view. | 05-12-2011 |
20110114024 | AUTOMATIC MILKING DEVICE - Device for milking an animal, such as a cow, comprising an animal standing area to be occupied by the animal to be milked in a particular milking position and a robot device with a robot arm assembly for applying to and/or removing teat cups from the respective teats of the udder of the animal, wherein the robot arm assembly at a distal end is provided with holding means for the teat cups, wherein the robot arm assembly at a proximal end is suspended from a support so as to extend downwards therefrom and is rotatable with respect thereto about a first centre line which has a vertical direction component, wherein, in use, the first centre line intersects the floor of the animal standing area. | 05-19-2011 |
20110155067 | SYSTEM FOR CONNECTING A TEAT CUP - The invention provides a system for connecting a teat cup to a teat, and a teat cup of this type. A teat cup of this type includes an optical sensor which looks from the inside outwards through the opening of the teat cup. An image of, for example, a teat can thus be produced, and said image can be used very simply to assist a robot arm in guiding the teat cup to the teat. | 06-30-2011 |
20110174227 | INSTALLATION FOR SUPPLYING LIQUID FEED TO AN ANIMAL AND AN AUTONOMOUSLY DISPLACEABLE VEHICLE FOR USE IN SUCH AN INSTALLATION - An installation for supplying liquid feed to an animal, such as a calf. The installation comprises one or more feed loading places and one or more feed unloading places, and one or more vehicles that are autonomously displaceable, controlled by a microprocessor or the like, between one or more feed loading places and one or more feed unloading places, each vehicle comprising a drinking nozzle, such as a flexible teat, which is movably mounted relative to the remaining part of the displaceable vehicle, and a height adjusting device for adjusting a height of the drinking nozzle. | 07-21-2011 |
20110185975 | UNMANNED VEHICLE COMPRISING A PROTECTION DEVICE - Unmanned vehicle to carry out an animal-related action, provided with a frame and a control device to control the vehicle and a locomotion device to move the unmanned vehicle, and with a protective device to protect the vehicle against obstacles, wherein the protective device includes a touchable electrical conductor which extends on the outside of, advantageously around, the vehicle, and a voltage source to supply voltage to the conductor under the control of the control device. | 08-04-2011 |
20110239945 | SYSTEM FOR CONNECTING A TEAT CUP TO A TEAT - The invention provides a system for connecting a teat cup to a teat, including a teat cup with an opening for receiving a teat, a robot arm for moving the teat cup, a teat cup positioning system with a 3D-sensor and a sensor device for measuring a control quantity, and for connecting the teat cup under the control of the 3D-camera and the control quantity. The sensor device includes at least two electrodes around the opening and a capacitive sensor configured to measure a quantity connected with the capacitance between the electrodes, in particular the capacitance between two electrodes. This system provides a reliable positioning with respect to a teat by, for example, maximization of the measured capacitance. The positioning system supports an optical 3D-sensor for the first, global positioning. | 10-06-2011 |
20110296635 | DEVICE FOR REMOVING MANURE FROM A FLOOR, IN PARTICULAR A CLOSED FLOOR - The present invention relates to an unmanned self-propelled and self-steering device for removing manure present on a floor, including a manure slide and a drive for moving the device over the floor, wherein the manure slide is substantially U-shaped or V-shaped with two legs in order to define autonomously a manure-accommodating-space which opens in a forward direction and is closed in a rearward direction, and wherein the legs have a length in the order of magnitude of the width of the manure slide. | 12-08-2011 |
20110296636 | DEVICE FOR REMOVING MANURE FROM A FLOOR - The present invention relates to an unmanned self-propelled and self-steering device for removing manure present on a floor, including a manure slide with a sliding wall which, when viewed in the customary direction of travel of the device, forms a first contact surface for manure present on the floor, and comprising a drive device for the travelling over the floor, wherein the drive device comprises a rotatingly driven drive which is in driving engagement with the floor during operation and which is located in front of the sliding wall. | 12-08-2011 |
20110297099 | DEVICE FOR REMOVING MANURE FROM A FLOOR - The present invention relates to a device for removing manure present on a floor, including a frame, a drive for moving the device over the floor and at least one manure slide which has an upper edge, wherein the manure slide is held by the frame by means of a connection structure, wherein the connection structure includes a first rotational connection with a first substantially horizontal rotational centre line which is located below at least a portion of the upper edge of a manure-pushing wall portion of the manure slide. | 12-08-2011 |
20120055508 | DEVICE FOR DISPLACING MATERIAL LYING ON A FLOOR - The present invention relates to an assembly for displacing material present on a stable floor, including an unmanned self-propelled device having a frame, wherein the frame is provided with a slide for displacing the material and with at least one brush, wherein the assembly further includes setting means for automatically and selectively setting the intensity of the contact of the brush with the floor. | 03-08-2012 |
20120090110 | AUTONOMOUS MOVABLE VEHICLE HAVING A FILLABLE CONTAINER AND AN ASSEMBLY INCLUDING THE AUTONOMOUS MOVABLE VEHICLE AND A FILLING STATION - An autonomous movable vehicle including: a propelling device; a fluid receiving conduit having at least one fill opening through which a container can be filled; at least one fluid dispensing opening through which a fluid is dispensed; and a controller that causes the vehicle to autonomously approach a fluid delivery station that is separate from the vehicle and that causes the fill opening to couple to the fluid delivery station, wherein when the fill opening and the fluid delivery station are in an interfacing position, fluid is transferred from the fluid delivery station into the container, and the fill opening of the fluid receiving conduit is disposed at a location spaced apart from and to one side of a central mirror axis of the vehicle which axis extends in the direction of travel of the vehicle. | 04-19-2012 |
20120097108 | DEVICE FOR AND A METHOD OF MILKING A DAIRY ANIMAL - The present invention relates to a milking device for milking a dairy animal, including at least one teat cup including a flexible cup liner around a teat space, and a single pulsation space and a milk line, a milking vacuum pump connected to the milk line, for providing a milking vacuum, a pulsator connected to the pulsation space, for providing a controllable air pressure therein, and a control device for controlling at least the pulsator during at least a milking action. The control device is configured to cause the pulsator and/or the milking vacuum pump to provide, in a period of time consecutive to a milking action wherein a dairy animal is milked and a teat is located in the teat space, such a substantially stable, non-pulsating pressure difference between the pulsation space and the teat space, that the cup liner shuts off the teat space from the milk line. | 04-26-2012 |
20120125261 | METHOD OF AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING A GROUP OF DAIRY ANIMALS - The present invention relates to a system and method of managing a group of dairy animals. More particularly, the invention relates to measuring one or more milk parameters, comparing this parameter to a criterion, and allowing an animal access to a pasture based on this comparison. The milk parameter is related to the composition of milk obtained from a dairy animal in as far as the composition is defined by at least one of the amount of protein and the energy intake of the dairy animal. The measured milk parameter is, for example, urea. Access to the pasture will be completely or partly blocked for a dairy animal having a high content of urea. This dairy animal is thus prevented from taking in an undesirably large amount of protein. | 05-24-2012 |
20120145082 | MILKING DEVICE, METHOD OF MILKING AND SOFTWARE FOR CONTROLLING A MILKING DEVICE - The invention relates to a milking device, a method and software. The milking device includes a device for preventing contaminants in milk during the milking of an animal. The milking device includes a teat cup to be attached to a teat and to be connected to a milk collecting vessel for collecting the milk. The device further includes a detector for generating and transmitting a disruption signal as a result of the detection of a premature becoming detached of the teat cup, and/or as a result of the detection of the incorrect attachment of a teat cup. The device also includes a management system to separate, on the basis of the disruption signal, the milk from the animal into a first amount of milk, which is led to a first destination, and a second amount of milk, which is led to a second destination different from the first destination. | 06-14-2012 |
20120145083 | PRE-TREATMENT TEAT CUP - The present invention provides a teat treatment device, as well as an automatic milking device, a method and a teat cup therefor. The present invention cleans or otherwise treats a teat by repeatedly placing a teat cup on the teat and removing it therefrom again, wherein the upper side thereof, in particular segments with projections on the inner side, around the teat-receiving opening scrub the teat clean under frictional contact. Nozzles which can spray a jet of liquid on, in particular, the projections in the inactive position, can assist this treatment. | 06-14-2012 |
20120255495 | MILKING IMPLEMENT - A milking implement comprising a frame with, disposed thereon, at least one teat cup holder with a teat cup movable relative thereto, and a replacing element connected with the teat cup, wherein the frame further includes an intermediate arm connected with the frame and with the teat cup holder and having a first joint and a second joint about which the teat cup holder and the intermediate arm, respectively, are tiltable with the aid of the replacing element, and a spring coupled with the teat cup holder and the frame and, if desired, with the intermediate arm. | 10-11-2012 |
20130000559 | MILKING IMPLEMENT - An autonomous mobile milking implement having a frame with, a sub-frame which is adjustable in height and which has at least one teat cup holder and a teat cup movable relative thereto. The teat cup holder is tiltable, via a tilting mechanism coupled to the teat cup holder and the frame between a substantially vertical position and a second partially inverted position. The milking implement protects the teat cups against contamination and is capable of storing them in a compact manner. | 01-03-2013 |
20130073137 | VEHICLE FOR DISPLACING FEED - The invention provides an autonomous vehicle for displacing feed laterally, comprising a frame having two separately drivable rear wheels and a front supporting point, and a feed displacer in the form of an annular element which is freely rotatable and has a radius r, said element forming the outer circumference of the vehicle. In order to enhance the control stability, the rear wheels are situated at a distance of less than a radius from the geometric centre of the vehicle. | 03-21-2013 |
20130092198 | TEAT CUP CLEANING DEVICE AND METHOD RELATED THERETO - A teat cup cleaning device having a heating chamber, provided with a discharge which is closable by a valve, and arranged for connection to a teat cup. A filling device is provided for filling the heating chamber with an amount of cleaning liquid, and a heating arrangement is arranged to heat the contents of the heating chamber to a temperature T higher than the boiling point Tk of the cleaning liquid at ambient pressure. The valve opens in this situation to deliver the heated cleaning liquid to the teat cup. The teat cup cleaning device also comprising a connecting line between a liquid supply and the discharge. | 04-18-2013 |
20130239898 | DAIRY ANIMAL TREATMENT SYSTEM - There is provided a method and system for connecting a teat cup ( | 09-19-2013 |
20130269625 | ASSEMBLY FOR AND METHOD OF GRAZING - Assembly for delimiting a grazing area for cattle, in particular dairy cattle, comprising at least three holders which are spaced apart and which are directly or indirectly interconnected by one or more delimiting elements, such as wires, which are displaceable by the holders, wherein at least two of the holders are self-propelled and at least one of the holders is designed as a milking station. | 10-17-2013 |
20130333728 | TEAT CUP CLEANING DEVICE AND METHOD - A teat cup cleaning device comprises a heating chamber provided with a discharge outlet that is closable by a valve and arranged for connection to a teat cup. A filling device is arranged for filling the heating chamber with an amount of cleaning liquid and retaining a given quantity of gas. The chamber is provided with a heating arrangement arranged to heat the contents of the heating chamber to a temperature T higher than the boiling point Tk of the cleaning liquid at ambient pressure. On operation of the valve superheated cleaning liquid is discharged to clean a teat cup. | 12-19-2013 |
20140034750 | AUTONOMOUSLY DISPLACEABLE FEED DISPLACEMENT VEHICLE - A feed displacement vehicle which can move on a surface autonomously, the vehicle comprising a frame which is provided with a drive mechanism, a feed displacement device configured to push aside feed situated on the surface, a container for a feed supplement to be dispensed, and a dispensing device for dispensing the feed supplement from the container. The vehicle further comprises an adjustment device configured such that the dispensing device of the vehicle can be adjusted in order to dispense the feed supplement at a desired, adjustable dispensing distance. | 02-06-2014 |
20140190414 | AUTONOMOUS DEVICE FOR EXECUTING ONE OR MORE OPERATIONS ON OR NEAR THE TEATS OF A DAIRY ANIMAL FOR THE PURPOSE OF MILKING THE DAIRY ANIMAL AND METHOD OF MILKING A DAIRY ANIMAL - An autonomous device for executing one or more operations on or near the teats of a dairy animal for the purpose of milking the dairy animal, including a self-propelled wheeled undercarriage which can travel freely across a floor surface in at least two independent directions, and a robot arm which is fitted to the undercarriage and configured to execute the one or more operations on or near the teats of the dairy animal, the device configured to execute the one or more operations in a milking device with a milking floor on which the dairy animals are situated during milking, and the device being supported on a stationary pit floor during the execution of the one or more operations, which pit floor is at a lower level than the milking floor. | 07-10-2014 |
20140217977 | VEHICLE SYSTEM - A vehicle system with a charging station and an autonomously movable, electrically powered vehicle dockable therewith, the vehicle system being mutually engageable at an inlet-side on the vehicle and an outlet-side on the charging station arranged to transport energy between the charging station and vehicle when engaged and further being provided with an inlet-side guiding member, an outlet-side guiding member, respectively, arranged to guide the inlet-side and outlet-side engagements from a non-charging position into a charging position upon engaging of the inlet- and outlet-sides when docking the vehicle to the charging station. | 08-07-2014 |
20140318459 | IMPLEMENT FOR AUTOMATICALLY MILKING A DAIRY ANIMAL - An implement for automatically milking a dairy animal, such as a cow, comprises a milking parlour, a sensor for observing a teat, and a milking robot for automatically attaching a teat cup to the teat. The milking robot comprises a robot control that is connected to the sensor. The sensor comprises a radiation source for emitting light, a receiver for receiving electromagnetic radiation reflected from the dairy animal, a lens, and sensor control unit. The sensor comprises a matrix with a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns of receivers. The sensor control unit is designed to determine for each of the receivers a phase difference between the emitted and the reflected electromagnetic radiation in order to calculate the distance from the sensor to a plurality of points on the part to be observed of the dairy animal. | 10-30-2014 |