Abstract: An apparatus for cooling an animal in a place such as a milking stall or feeding stall wherein an artificial climate is created. The artificial climate disclosed comprises wetting the animal with a water vapor and causing an air flow over the wetted area of the animal. Water vapor is sprayed and rubbed onto the back of the animal while shields protect areas to remain dry. During the process the animal is monitored for signs of thermal stress using a variety of methods and the wetting and cooling process are discontinued if the artificial climate adversely affects the animal.

Abstract: A feed metering device for distributing fodder or drink or both as feed to animals in metered portions. The metering device is provided with a feed unit for containing the feed. An entrance door provides access to the feed unit. A feed supplying device supplies a predetermined amount of feed to the feed unit for the animal which is to be fed at the feed unit as determined by an animal identification device which is disposed at the feed unit and detects an identifying transponder on the relevant animal. The feed unit and therefore the feed therein is measured by its angular displacement relative to the device otherwise. Specifically, rolls are provided to measure the amount of pivoting or rotation relative to the device otherwise.

Abstract: A device for wrapping bales of agricultural produce such as bales of hay, straw or green crop with a film. The bales are completely wrapped with the film and are marked to set forth the quality of the bale as silage and with further information. The information may include the amount of film used to wrap the bale and thus the number of wrapping layers, and the name of the person responsible for wrapping the bale. Electronic devices may be applied to the wrapping film for ascertaining the location of the bale after it has been wrapped by GPS or DGPS. The information can be imprinted directly on the film used for wrapping the bale or on labels applied to the film.

Abstract: An apparatus for wrapping harvested crop material into bales wherein the wrapping material web is drawn off from a wrapping media supply which rotates about a vertical axis while, at the same time, the bale rotates about a horizontal axis. A sensor is provided which signals a tear in the wrapping media web or the absence of material media. The sensor may be optical ultrasonic or sense electromagnetic radiations of different frequency ranges, as appropriate for the media of which the wrapping media involved. A position sensor is provided which activates an evaluation of signals from the sensor that a signal is produced when the web tears or is absent.

Abstract: A woman's high-heeled pump wherein the heel portion is relatively narrowed and lengthened to extend along and firmly embrace the entire calcaneus of the wearer. The forward portion of the shoe receives the forward part of the wearer's foot including her toes in a relatively unrestrained manner. A foot bed corresponding to the shoe size is received entirely over the shoe's insole and is provided with arch supports that assist in retaining the foot in place within the shoe. The heel is cradled at a level somewhat lower than the surrounding part of the foot bed. The foot bed is provided on its lower side with grooves for comfort and compressability and cavities are provided under the metatarsal pad and heel for compressability and comfort.

Abstract: A feed metering device for distributing feed, that is fodder or drink, or both, in metered portions to an animal. The device comprises a feed unit for receiving and containing said feed which includes an entrance opening and receives said feed from a feed supplying device. The amount of feed provided by the feed supplying device to the feed unit is governed by data from an animal identification device which identifies the animal that will consume feed in the feed unit and a weighing device that determines the amount of feed remaining from the last feeding in the feed unit. Deterring devices include animal deterring means which may be a loudspeaker produce an animal frightening sound or a light producing element comprising an animal frightening light. Also a safety bracket is provided for the feed unit to prevent injury to the feed unit in the event that an animal feeding therefrom pushes the feed unit downwardly with force or the like.

Abstract: An unmanned vehicle for displacing manure in a stable or field which comprises a steering unit for steering the vehicle and a frame. Two wheels and a manure displacing blade which depend from the frame provide the entire support for the vehicle, the vehicle's center of gravity being in an axis which falls between the wheels and the blade. A freely turnable circular bumper is also carried by the frame and prevents the vehicle from colliding with obstacles in the area wherein it operates. The vehicle also includes orientation and steering components as well as sensors for controlling the course of travel of the vehicle within the area and, such as the circular bumper, to prevent it from colliding with obstacles in the area.

Abstract: A roofing tile simulates four S-shaped roof tiles, two side-by-side on top and the other two side-by-side below the first two simulated tiles. Two semi-cylindrical areas are longitudinally adjacent channel concave areas. The tile's front edge has protruding peripheral step. At its rear, the tile has horizontal channel zones which are slightly lower in height with respect to the rest of the tile and includes a posterior peripheral ridge. The front edge is cut back for both concave simulated portions and support sections are provided for the tiles whereby the tile defines an air chamber to form better thermal and acoustic insulation.

Abstract: A method of producing a substrate having a color image applied thereto wherein said image was produced by a xerographic process wherein the substrate is first provided with an electrostatically applied powder coating which can be clear epoxy-polyester, acrylic, urethane or the like, curing the polyester coating to an eighty to ninety-five percent cure at a temperature of about 350°. to 400° F. applying said xerographically produced color image which has been applied to a backing sheet to said first coating and pressing said image against said first coating at about 40 psi with a press temperature of about 400° F. for about 3.5.-4 minutes, allowing the composite so produced to cool, applying electrostatically thereto a further polymer which is the same as the first polymer to encase the image therein. The composite is then heated for a sufficient time to achieve a complete cure.

Abstract: A vehicle for automatically milking dairy farm animals which carries a milk reservoir having milk lines which connect to a set of teat cups that are automatically connected to animals' teats by a milking robot. The vehicle is supported from the underlying surface by wheels, caterpillar tracks, or an air cushion, and includes navigational equipment which controls the vehicle so that it positions itself under the animals' teats whereupon the teat cups automatically placed on the relevant animals' teats one by one or in pairs. The vehicle also has its own propulsion power source. The vehicle including all its components is movable and displaceable as a whole. A gripping mechanism for connecting the vehicle to an animal may be included. In a variation, a central station carries a milk reservoir and a plurality of satellite milking units as described above seek out and milk the dairy farm animals.

Abstract: A feed metering device for distributing fodder and/or drink in metered portions to an animal. The feed metering device is provided with a feed unit for containing fodder and/or drink, an entrance opening to the feed unit, and a feed supplying device for supplying an amount of fodder and/or drink to the feed unit. The feed metering device is provided with a closing means that is movable across the entrance opening in order to deter an animal visiting the feed unit from taking fodder and/or drink. The closing means rotates about an axis, the closing means being driven by a roll that contacts the closing means, which roll is driven by a motor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for milking an animal, in particular a cow, that uses a stress measuring device for determining the animal's degree of stress and to supply stress measurement data to a memory that stores the stress measurement data. Stress measurement data are obtained before, during and preferably after milking. The stress measuring device comprises at least one instrument selected from a group consisting of an infrared meter for measuring the animal's infrared image, a hygrometer for determining the humidity of the animal's fur or nose, and iris scanner for determining the animal's eye characteristics, and an odor meter for determining the animal's breath or body odor, a muscular tension measuring instrument for determining the animal's muscular tension, an excrement analyzing instrument for determining the characteristics of the animal's excrement, and a muscle vibration meter for determining the animal's muscle vibrations.

Abstract: An apparatus for demarcating an area for restricting the freedom of movement of animals that may be in the area for grazing purposes. The demarcation element, as such, may be a cord, band, ribbon, strip, cable, rope or electrified or communication wire which may be two parallel wires separated by a flexible insulating material. The demarcation element is supported by a plurality of vehicles although one or two ends of same may be secured at a reference point. The vehicle is supported by two relatively large wheels which are independently connected to motors and the center of gravity of vehicle is lower than the centers of the wheels which may be perpendicular to the ground or slanted inwardly. The vehicle carries solar panels which may be mounted on the wheels if they are slanted. A connection for the demarcation element is carried on each vehicle which may include a guide member and tightening device.

Abstract: A feed metering device for distributing feed (fodder or drink, or both) in metered portions to an animal. The device comprises a feed unit for receiving and containing said feed which includes an entrance opening that receives said feed from a feed supplying device, and which is rotatable about an axis. The amount of feed provided by the feed supplying device to the feed unit is governed by data from an animal identification device that identifies the animal that will consume the feed in the feed unit and a weighing device which determines the amount of feed remaining from the last feeding in the feeding unit and any added thereto by the magnitude of torque on a motor which rotates the closing device for the entrance opening of the feeding unit via a contacting roll.

Abstract: A treatment and irrigation system for relatively large tracts of land used for sports, public gardens, recreation, agricultural crops, or other land uses, wherein the output from a primary or secondary sewage treatment plant is received by a drip, or trickle, irrigation system which is disposed over a relatively large area to be irrigated, immediately under a stratum for receiving the roots of flora to be irrigated and above a layer of very permeable matter which receives the output of the sewage treatment plant. Such output, which is received, in part, through capillary action by flora growing on the upper stratum, drips through the permeable matter layer wherein the output is subjected to an aerobic action due to air in that layer. The permeable layer rests on underlying non-permable base although this also may also be permeable ground.

Abstract: A method of automatically milking a dairy animal, in particular a cow. The method comprises: a) the step of activating the teat cup for milking the teat; b) the step of measuring a milking parameter during milking the teat during step a) for obtaining a value of the milking parameter, and c) the step of deactivating the teat cup when a deactivation threshold has been reached. The deactivation threshold is determined at least partially with the aid of the value of the milking parameter. A device for automatically milking a dairy animal, in particular a cow. Said device is provided with means for activating the teat cup for milking a teat of the dairy animal, means comprising a milking parameter for measuring a milking parameter during milking the teat for obtaining a value of the milking parameter, means for deactivating the teat cup, and means for generating a threshold signal indicating that a deactivation threshold has been reached.

Abstract: A system for automatically milking animals is provided with a milking robot and a computer which is capable of being connected to a plurality of measuring instruments for a plurality of functions of the system and physiological conditions of the animals being milked. Monitoring programs for the functions and conditions are installed in a computer which, based on comparison reference data, determines that one or more components of the system is likely to fail or otherwise malfunction and reports on abnormal physiological conditions of animals being milked by the system. As a result of the computer determinations, diagnoses of the likelihood of failure or other malfunction of one or more of the system's components, and of abnormal conditions of the animals being milked, are transmitted to interested parties including a user and a service mechanic together with the appropriate actions to be taken.

Abstract: A feed metering device for distributing feed (fodder or drink, or both) in metered portions to an animal. The device comprises a feed unit for receiving and containing said feed which includes an entrance opening and receives said feed from a feed supplying device. The amount of feed provided by the feed supplying device to the feed unit is governed by data from an animal identification device that identifies the animal that will consume the feed in the feed unit and a weighing device that determines the amount of feed remaining from the last feeding in the feeding unit. Deterring devices include a closing device for the entrance opening to the feed unit which can be closed to deter animals found ineligible by the animal identification device to consume feed at the feeding unit. The closing device for the entrance opening rotates about an axis and is driven by a roll that contacts the closing device.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding animals in quantities, mixtures and at temperatures that are individualized as ideal for each animal, the apparatus being provided with an animal identification device for identifying each animal, a computer with a memory, the memory containing consumption related data for each animal, the computer generating a signal for supplying a quantity of feed to a relevant animal based on data from the animal identification device and data from the memory. The data from the memory includes for each animal data of its feed intake based on the quantity of liquid which is mixed into the feed. The addition of liquid into the feed is controlled by the computer and the quantity of liquid introduced into the feed is based on data from the animal identification device and relevant data from the memory.

Abstract: A device for determining the spatial position of an animal's teat having a first transmitter element for emitting a first ray or beam of rays in a first sub-area of a space which includes the presence of the teat, and a second transmitter element differing from the first transmitter element for emitting a second ray or beam of rays in a second sub-area in such space, the first sub-area and the second sub-area overlapping by a few degrees where the join. A first receiver element receives a reflection of the first ray or beam of rays and a second receiver element differing from the first receiver element receives a reflection of a second ray or beam of rays. A mirror having reflections or both of the rays or beams of rays from the transmitter elements.