| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 119140080 | With automatic control | 63 |
| 20080216751 | DEVICE FOR MILKING ANIMALS - A device for milking animals includes a milking robot for automatically connecting at least two teat cups to the teats of an animal to be milked. The milk yielded is collected in a milk container. In each milk line, between a respective teat cup and the milk container, there is provided an auxiliary reservoir for collecting milk obtained at the beginning of the milking process. The auxiliary reservoir has an outlet aperture with a closing device. Each auxiliary reservoir is disposed in a respective mounting block, the various mounting blocks being arranged side by side, and the device is provided with an arrangement for simultaneously operating the closing devices. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080257268 | Arrangement and Method for Visual Detection in a Milking System - A visual detection arrangement is provided in a milking system ( | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080276870 | MILK CONVEYER DEVICE - The invention relates to a milk conveyer device ( | 11-13-2008 |
| 20080314324 | Arrangement and Method for Determining Positions of the Teats of a Milking Animal - An arrangement for determining positions of the teats of an animal is provided in a milking system comprising a robot arm for automatically attaching teat cups to the teats of an animal when being located in a position to be milked, and a control device for controlling the movement of the robot arm based on determined positions of the teats of the animal. The arrangement comprises a camera pair directed towards the teats of the animal for repeatedly recording pairs of images, and an image processing device for repeatedly detecting the teats of the animal and determining their positions by a stereoscopic calculation method based on the repeatedly recorded pairs of images, wherein the cameras of the camera pair are arranged vertically one above the other, and the image processing device is provided, for each teat and for each pair of images, to define the position of the lower tip of the teat in the pair of images as conjugate points, and to find the conjugate points along a substantially vertical epipolar line. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20090078207 | FLOW RESTRICTOR FOR MILKING APPARATUS - A milking apparatus that is used to extract milk from dairy animals includes a vacuum source, a milking liner cooperating with a shell to define a pulsation chamber; and a pulsator in fluid communication with the pulsation chamber and the vacuum source. The pulsator is configured to produce at least a four-phase milking cycle in the milking liner with the cycle including at least an A phase and a C phase. The A phase is wherein the liner is changed from a closed configuration to an open configuration during which the pulsator provides fluid communication between the pulsation chamber and the vacuum source. The C phase is wherein the liner is changed from an open configuration to a closed configuration during which the pulsator allows atmospheric air to flow into the pulsation chamber. A restrictor is disposed in the path of the fluid communication between the pulsator and the pulsation chamber with the restrictor slowing the C phase compared to the A phase. | 03-26-2009 |
| 20090126637 | DEVICE INCLUDING A MILK-CONVEYING TUBULAR MEMBER - The invention refers to a device including a milk-conveying tubular member ( | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090133634 | Dairy Farm System and Method for Communication in Such a Dairy Farm System - A dairy farm system comprises a plurality of apparatuses ( | 05-28-2009 |
| 20090173281 | MILKING PLANT - A milking plant includes a milking member to be attached to a teat of an animal to be milked during a milking operation. A milk container is connected to the milking member and adapted to collect the milk extracted during the milking operation. A milk pump, being a part of a milk transport conduit, defines a suction side and a pressure side. A milk tank is connected to the milk container via the milk transport conduit and adapted to collect the milk from the milk container. A milk sample discharge device is connected to the milk transport conduit at the pressure side. The milk pump is adapted to transport during a milk transport operation the milk extracted during the milking operation from the milk container in a major flow to the milk tank and in a minor flow via the milk discharge device. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090211528 | Device For Stimulating An Udder During Milking - The invention relates to a device for stimulating an udder during milking, comprising a housing with a first connection ( | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090255473 | System and method for on-line analysis and sorting of milk coagulation properties - A method for on-line channeling of milk based on predicted coagulation properties where the method comprises sampling raw milk from a milk line between a milking station and a collection point, performing spectral analysis of one or more of optical transmission, optical reflectance, scatter and fluorescence on the raw milk sample, predicting at least one coagulation parameter on-line based on the spectral analysis, and channeling milk from the milking station on-line to one of a plurality of destinations based on the at least one coagulation parameter. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20100018465 | METHOD IN A MILKING SYTEM FOR CREATING A REQUIRED VACUUM LEVEL AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS - The invention relates to a method in a milking system for creating a required vacuum level, the milking system comprising at least two variable speed vacuum pumps P | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100058989 | METHOD FOR DETECTING MASTITIS OF MILKING ANIMALS, A MILKING SYSTEM AND A COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - A method for detecting mastitis of a milking animal includes the steps of: determining a first indicator of mastitis; determining a second indicator of mastitis; evaluating the first indicator of mastitis and the second indicator of mastitis; and identifying a need for a third indicator of mastitis based on the step of evaluation. An increased reliability is obtained by the method, while the costs are still kept at a minimum. A milking system is also disclosed. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20100154714 | SYSTEM FOR MANAGING THE SUPPLY OF CONSUMABLE MATTER TO BE CONSUMED BY MILK PRODUCING ANIMALS - A system for managing the supply of consumable matter to be consumed by milk producing animals includes a supply arrangement ( | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100154715 | AUTOMATIC MONITORING OF MILKING PLANT VALVE MEANS - The invention relates to a solution for cleaning a milking plant, which includes a milk line system (MLS), connectable to a collecting means, and is adapted to deliver milk that has been withdrawn from animals to a milk storage means ( | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100180824 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND/OR APPARATUS FOR OPERATING A SELECTION SYSTEM - Computer executable instructions adapted to control an animal's access to a channel leading to a remote resource, the instructions being adapted to execute steps of: retrieving a specific animal record based on the output of an identification component, and issuing a control signal to an animal selection system to allow an animal access to the remote resource if the retrieved animal selection record indicates priority animal status, and that an existing number of animals present in the channel is below a queue threshold value. | 07-22-2010 |
| 20100186676 | 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. | 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 |
| 20100199915 | Arrangement and method for determining positions of the teats of a milking animal - An arrangement for determining positions of the teats of an animal is provided in a milking system comprising a robot arm for automatically attaching teat cups to the teats of an animal when being located in a position to be milked, and a control device for controlling the movement of the robot arm based on determined positions of the teats of the animal. The arrangement comprises a camera pair directed towards the teats of the animal for repeatedly recording pairs of images, and an image processing device for repeatedly detecting the teats of the animal and determining their positions by a stereoscopic calculation method based on the repeatedly recorded pairs of images, wherein the cameras of the camera pair are arranged vertically one above the other, and the image processing device is provided, for each teat and for each pair of images, to define the position of the lower tip of the teat in the pair of images as conjugate points, and to find the conjugate points along a substantially vertical epipolar line. | 08-12-2010 |
| 20100236487 | Fluid Application Systems And Methods And Milking Systems And Methods - A fluid application system for automatically applying a fluid to the teats of an animal subsequent to the milking of the animal comprises a fluid delivery arrangement comprising a plurality of applicators, wherein each of the applicators is arranged in connection with a respective teat cup and is provided for applying the fluid to a teat of the animal, to which the respective teat cup is attached during the milking of the animal, in connection with a detachment of the teat cup from the teat. A control arrangement is provided for (i) determining, for a detachment of a teat cup from a teat, whether that detachment is a normal detachment or an abnormal detachment, and (ii) controlling, for the detachment of the teat cup from the teat, the applicator arranged in connection with that teat cup to apply the fluid provided that the detachment is a normal detachment and to not apply the fluid provided that the detachment is an abnormal detachment. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100251965 | DEVICE FOR REMOVING AT LEAST ONE TEAT CUP FROM A TEAT OF AN ANIMAL - A device for removing at least one teat cup ( | 10-07-2010 |
| 20100263595 | METHOD FOR THE COMPUTER-BASED IDENTIFICATION OF MASTITIS - A method for the computer-based identification of mastitis of milk-producing animals of a herd, wherein individual animals are automatically identified by an animal identification means of a herd management system, and a milk sample assigned to the animal is taken and analyzed for the identification of mastitis. The method takes into account the fact that different animals in a herd have an individual tendency to contract mastitis, so that not all the animals in said herd have to be examined with the same frequency for a possible case of mastitis, and the method according to the invention correspondingly proposes that after the animal identification process, the herd management system decides whether a milk sample is taken and/or analyzed, based on animal-specific information that is stored in the herd management system. | 10-21-2010 |
| 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 |
| 20110023785 | DETECTION DEVICE, AND MILKING DEVICE AND METHOD THEREWITH - The invention provides a detection device for determining position information from an object to the detection device, wherein the position information includes at least a distance from that object to the detection device. The detection device includes: a light source arranged to emit light; a control device arranged to control the light source; a light measuring device comprising a 2D classification of light sensitive elements and arranged to measure reflected light and to generate a corresponding measuring signal; a signal processing device arranged to process the measuring signal to position information, including distance information, of the object with respect to the detection device, wherein the signal processing device includes an object recognition device is configured to recognize at least one of: an udder, a teat, a and respective parts thereof, and wherein at least one of the light measuring device has an absolute sensitivity maximum with a wavelength between 400 and 570 nm, and the light source has an absolute emission maximum with a wavelength between 400 and 570 nm. | 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 |
| 20110061596 | POSITIONING OF TEAT CUPS - An arrangement for fetching a teat cup from a teat cup magazine in which each teat cup has a respective fixed position includes a reference entity in a fixed spatial relationship to the teat cup magazine and each teat cup stored therein; a remote detecting element that registers wireless energy reflected by the reference entity, and based thereon determines a respective position for the teat cup relative to a robotic arm. The robotic arm carries a gripper element configured to hold the teat cup during removal thereof from the teat cup magazine. The reference entity is configured to allow the remote detecting element to receive wireless energy reflected against the reference entity while moving the robotic arm towards the least one teat cup for removing the at least teat cup from the teat cup magazine. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110107971 | MILKING SYSTEM, A TEAT CUP AND A TEAT CUP LINER - A milking system ( | 05-12-2011 |
| 20110132264 | MILK SAMPLING AND TESTING - A method of collecting a sample of milk while milking a succession of animals comprises diverting a portion of milk from an animal into a flowpath ( | 06-09-2011 |
| 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 |
| 20110253051 | Detection Arrangement and Method - A detecting arrangement is provided for a teat cleaning device including a teat cleaning cup in which teats of milking animals are contained during cleaning thereof. The detecting arrangement comprises a measuring device provided for automatically measuring a teat related parameter in or adjacent to the teat cleaning cup at completion of a teat cleaning process, and a processing device operatively connected to the measuring device and provided for automatically comparing the measured teat related parameter with a reference value and for automatically determining whether the teat of the milking animal has been contained in the teat cleaning cup unfolded during the teat cleaning process based on the comparison. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20120012059 | MILKING SYSTEM - An identification arrangement identifies animals, and only when a milk permission criteria is fulfilled is that animal provided with access to the milking machine. The milking machine extracts milk from the animal. In connection with the milking, a cell counter unit determines a quality parameter reflecting a somatic cell count for the milk extracted from the animal. The cell counter unit includes a sampling unit for taking samples from the extracted milk and a counter unit, which determines the quality parameter by registering a true number of somatic cells per unit volume in said samples. A control unit receives the quality parameter and in response thereto assigns a milk permission interval determining an earliest point after a completed milking at which point the set of milk permission criteria for the animal are again enabled to be fulfilled. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120017836 | Dairy harvesting facility with milk line protection system and methods - Apparatus and methods for a dairy harvesting facility including valves and valve assemblies that prevent contaminants from reaching a central milk collection system. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120031341 | MILKING SYSTEM FOR MAMMALS, PREFERABLY CATTLE, THAT DIFFERENTIATES WHEN THE MILK IS OVER, COMPRISING A COLLECTOR, TEAT CUPS AND HOSES - A system that attached to mechanized milking equipment allows its automation that solves the subclinical mastitis by “differentiating” among each individual mammary quarter the time when teat cups must be removed after the milk is over, in an asynchronous and independent manner from other teat cups. Minimize the negative consequences of over-milking as a results of not removing teat cups on time after the milk flow has stopped; reduces economic, financial and productivity problems arisen as a result of subclinical mastitis mainly caused by over-milking; thus improving the product quality and amount. Mastitis produces somatic cells in milk, the greater the amount of these cells the lower the price received by the producer. Damage to the mammary gland may be permanent resulting in the loss of the gland and may be contagious. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120055408 | ROBOT AND METHOD FOR MILKING A COW BY THIS ROBOT - The present invention relates to a robot ( | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120118236 | DEVICE, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR MILKING ANIMALS - The invention provides a device ( | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120132142 | SAFETY SYSTEM - Methods and systems are disclosed for controlling a milking installation having a movable element that performs a procedure related to extracting milk from milking animals. An exemplary method includes capturing a three-dimensional image of a detected entity present in an operating zone of the movable element, and comparing the captured three-dimensional image to stored image reference data. Based on the comparison, the detected entity is categorized entity as one of a first predefined entity and a second predefined entity. The first predefined entity corresponds to a milking animal and the second predefined entity corresponds to an entity other than a milking animal. Based on the categorization, a control determination is made of whether to allow the movable element to continue the procedure related to milk extraction or to initiate a safety measure. Then, the control determination is implemented. | 05-31-2012 |
| 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 |
| 20120180729 | ANIMAL POSITION SENSOR - A device for automatically milking an animal in an animal space is provided with a robot arm for automatically performing an action on a teat of the animal, a teat sensor, and an animal position sensor for determining the animal position in the animal space. The animal position sensor is movable in a longitudinal direction of the animal space. The animal position sensor is mounted so as to be movable or shiftable in a longitudinal direction of the animal space. This has the advantage that the range of the sensor becomes considerably larger while the sensor can be the same as in a known device. | 07-19-2012 |
| 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 |
| 20120272914 | MILKING BOX WITH ROBOTIC ATTACHER AND VISION SYSTEM - In certain embodiments, a system includes a robotic attacher comprising a main arm and a supplemental arm operable to extend into a stall portion of a milking box. A camera couples to the supplemental arm. The supplemental arm comprises a camera-facing nozzle operable to spray the camera with a cleanser. | 11-01-2012 |
| 20120272915 | MILKING BOX WITH STORAGE AREA FOR TEAT CUPS - In certain embodiments, a milking box comprises a storage area comprising a retractable hose, a hose lift belt, a cup holder base, a cup holder, and a cup holder bracket. The retractable hose couples to a cup and suspends the cup in the storage area. The hose lift belt couples to the retractable hose and is operable to retract the retractable hose. The cup holder base defines an aperture through which the retractable hose is positioned. The cup holder comprises a rimmed structure adapted to hold an attachment end of the cup. The cup holder is coupled to the cup holder bracket. The cup holder bracket is operable to open and close such that when closed, the rimmed structure of the cup holder aligns with the attachment end of the cup that is suspended from the retractable hose. | 11-01-2012 |
| 20120272916 | MILKING BOX WITH A ROBOTIC ATTACHER HAVING A THREE-DIMENSIONAL RANGE OF MOTION - In certain embodiments, a robotic attacher comprises a main arm, a supplemental arm coupled to the main arm, and a plurality of actuators operable to move the main arm and supplemental arm in response to signals from a controller. The actuators comprise first, second, and third actuators operable to move the main arm in x-, y-, and z-directions, respectively. The actuators further comprise fourth and fifth actuators operable to pivot a gripping portion of the supplemental arm in a first z-direction and a second z-direction, respectively, with the second z-direction being opposite the first z-direction. | 11-01-2012 |
| 20120272917 | Milking Box With Robotic Attacher - In certain embodiments, a system includes a front wall, a rear wall positioned substantially parallel to the front wall, and first and second side walls each extending between the front wall and the rear wall. The first side wall includes a gate, and the second side wall is spaced apart from the first side wall such that the front wall, the rear wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall define a milking box stall of a size sufficient to accommodate a dairy livestock. The system includes an equipment portion located adjacent to the rear wall. The equipment portion houses a robotic attacher configured to extend between the rear legs of a dairy livestock located within the milking box stall in order to attach milking equipment to the dairy livestock. | 11-01-2012 |
| 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 |
| 20130036975 | METHOD OF AUTOMATICALLY MILKING ANIMALS AND AUTOMATIC MILKING SYSTEM - An automatic milking system ( | 02-14-2013 |
| 20130055955 | ROTARY PLATFORM USER INTERFACE - A control and monitoring system for a rotating animal platform which includes multiple animal stalls arranged about its periphery, where the system includes an interactive display screen which displays output information relating to the current status of operations on the platform and which displays input channels for use by an operator, the platform itself is represented at said interactive display screen by an annular shape, each stall on the platform is graphically represented by a cell, the cells are displayed in a spatial arrangement corresponding to the arrangement of stalls on the platform, real-time status information relating to operations on the platform is represented at each cell, and the rotating movement of the platform is represented by the progression of each cell about the displayed representation of the platform. | 03-07-2013 |
| 20130112145 | MODULAR MANIPULATION DEVICE - The present invention relates to modular apparatuses for manipulation of animals and to methods of manipulating animals with the modular apparatuses of the invention. A modular apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: (a) a main support fixed to a stationary point, (b) a number of arms, each of said arms comprising a proximal end and a distal end, each changeable arm having a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends, wherein said proximal end is pivotally mounted to the main support for rotation thereof about a first pivot axis substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, and (c) one or more end of arm changeable tools, wherein said one or more end of arm changeable tools are pivotally coupled to the distal ends of each arm for rotation thereof about a second pivot axis, wherein the second pivot axis is substantially parallel to the first pivot axis. | 05-09-2013 |
| 20130180455 | CONTROL SYSTEM FOR AT LEAST ONE FLEXIBLE TUBULAR ELEMENT CONNECTED TO A CUP-SHAPED MEMBER - A control system for at least one flexible tubular element connected to a cup-shaped member includes a positioning mechanism arranged to hold the cup-shaped member and the tubular element in a parking position in a magazine when the cup-shaped member is not used, and to allow a pull-out motion of the tubular element when the cup-shaped member is moved from the parking position in the magazine to an attaching position on a teat of an animal by a gripping member. The control system further includes a control unit arranged to control the positioning mechanism such that it provides a pull-out motion of the tubular element with a controlled speed when the cup-shaped member is moved from the parking position to the attaching position on a teat of an animal by the gripping member. | 07-18-2013 |
| 20130269618 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY DETERMINING ANIMAL POSITION AND ANIMAL ACTIVITY - Monitoring activity of an animal in a system for housing freely moving animals including a plurality of animal ID stations, includes the steps of a) recording a first visit of said animal at a first of said animal ID stations, b) recording a subsequent second visit of said animal at a second of said animal ID stations, and c) determining a distance covered by said animal as the distance between said first animal ID station at said first visit and said second animal ID station at said second visit. With such simple means, parts of which are already present in e.g. most robot dairy stables, important information about activity of animals can easily be gathered. | 10-17-2013 |
| 20130284098 | System and a Method for Controlling an Automatic Milking System - There is disclosed a system ( | 10-31-2013 |
| 20140130745 | DETECTOR SYSTEM, SENSOR AND DAIRY ANIMAL TREATMENT DEVICE - Sensor system with a sensor device having a through-flow cell for liquid, a detector device for measuring a property of the liquid in the through-flow cell and for generating an associated detector signal, a sensor control for analyzing the detector signal, wherein the sensor control detects a liquid transition between two different liquids in the through-flow cell when a change (per unit time) in the detector signal is greater is than a threshold value. In the case of such a liquid transition detection, the sensor control generates an alarm signal. Liquid transition detection is carried out by optical, temperature and/or conductivity sensors. | 05-15-2014 |
| 20140190415 | ROBOT AND METHOD FOR MILKING A COW BY THIS ROBOT - A milking robot comprising a movable arm and a plurality of grippers. The movable arm has a length in a longitudinal direction. The plurality of grippers are swivably mounted to the movable arm such that each gripper moves between a first position parallel to the movable arm's longitudinal direction and a second position at which the gripper extends sideways in a horizontal plane away from the movable arm's longitudinal direction. | 07-10-2014 |
| 20140196665 | VISION SYSTEM FOR ROBOTIC ATTACHER - A system includes a robotic arm on which at least one camera is attached. It further includes a memory and a controller communicatively coupled to the memory. The memory stores historical information associated with a dairy livestock. The historical information include a previously-determined location of a teat of the dairy livestock. The controller moves the camera on the robotic arm toward the previously-determined location of the teat. The camera generates an image of the teat of the dairy livestock from a position to which it is moved, and the controller determines a current location of the teat of the dairy livestock based at least in part on the image. | 07-17-2014 |
| 20140326187 | MILKING BOX WITH ROBOTIC ATTACHER - A robotic attacher comprises a main arm, a supplemental arm coupled to the main arm, and a gripping portion coupled to the supplemental arm. The gripping portion comprises at least one nozzle and is operable to rotate such that during a first mode of operation, the nozzle is positioned away from the top of the gripping portion, and during a second mode of operation, the nozzle is positioned generally on the top of the gripping portion. | 11-06-2014 |
| 20150059649 | ROBOTIC ARM WITH DOUBLE GRABBER AND METHOD OF OPERATION - A robotic attacher comprises a main arm suspended from a rail, a supplemental arm coupled to the main arm, and a gripping portion coupled to an extension of the supplemental arm. The gripping portion comprises a first grabber positioned side-by-side with a second grabber. The first grabber is operable to attach a first teat cup to a first teat of a dairy livestock and the second grabber is operable to tilt downward independent of the first grabber in conjunction with the first grabber attaching the first teat cup. The second grabber is operable to attach a second teat cup to a second teat of the dairy livestock and the first grabber is operable to tilt downward independent of the second grabber in conjunction with the second grabber attaching the second teat cup. | 03-05-2015 |
| 20150096498 | Dairy Harvesting Facility with Milk Line Protection System and Methods - Apparatus and methods for a dairy harvesting facility including valves and valve assemblies that prevent contaminants from reaching a central milk collection system. | 04-09-2015 |
| 20150122183 | Stray Light Compensation Method and System for Time of Flight Camera Systems - A method and system to compensate for stray light errors in time of flight (TOF) camera systems uses reference targets in the in the field of view (FOV) that can be used to measure stray light. In different embodiments, one or more reference targets are used. | 05-07-2015 |
| 20150289470 | MILKING ARRANGEMENT, SET OF EXCHANGEABLE EXPENDABLE PARTS AND METHOD FOR A MILKING ARRANGEMENT - An exchangeable expendable part of a milking arrangement includes an identification tag with data by which a model or a manufacturing date of the exchangeable expendable part is uniquely identified. The tag is readable by a reader arranged to repeatedly read the tag and to forward the readings to a computer system, whereby the computer system identifies the model and/or a manufacturing date of the part based on the readings; and, in response to the identified model and/or manufacturing date, i) alerts an operator, ii) monitors and/or controls the milking arrangement, and/or iii) makes the model and/or the manufacturing date of the part available to an operator. Exchangeable expendable parts include teat cup liners, cartridges including teat cup liners, and milk or vacuum tubes connected to teat cups. | 10-15-2015 |
| 20150296736 | METHOD IMPLEMENTED BY A COMPUTER FOR THE CONTROL OF MILKING OPERATIONS ON AUTOMATED SYSTEMS - A method implemented by a computer for the control of the milking operations of automated systems comprises the steps of:
| 10-22-2015 |
| 20150342139 | CAMERA SYSTEM, ANIMAL RELATED SYSTEM THEREWITH, AND METHOD TO CREATE 3D CAMERA IMAGES - A camera system, an animal related system therewith, and a method for creating a 3D image of an object, the camera device including a 3D camera device to capture images of the object, a processing device to determine a 3D image from the captured images, and a mover device to move at least a part of the 3D camera device with a reciprocating movement. Providing a movement to the camera device provides a less noisy and more accurate 3D image of the object, in particular in a case of a soiled camera device. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20160066530 | MILKING BOX WITH ROBOTIC ATTACHER AND VISION SYSTEM - A system includes a robotic attacher comprising a main arm and a supplemental arm operable to extend into a stall portion of a milking box. A camera couples to the supplemental arm. The supplemental arm comprises a camera-facing nozzle operable to spray the camera with a cleanser. | 03-10-2016 |
| 20160192610 | MILKING BOX WITH ROBOTIC ATTACHER | 07-07-2016 |
| 20170231186 | AUTOMATIC ANIMAL PROCESSING DEVICE | 08-17-2017 |
| 20170231187 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING DAIRY ANIMALS | 08-17-2017 |
