Patents Assigned to GEA Farm Technologies GmbH
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Patent number: 9576368Abstract: The invention relates to a method for optically determining the position and/or orientation of an object in space on the basis of images from at least one camera (24a, 24b). At least one 2D image of the object is recorded; 2D contour information is extracted from the image. On the basis of the contour information, at least one area (40) of the object is determined. Furthermore, 3D information is obtained from the at least one 2D image or a further 2D image. A portion situated within the determined area (40) of the object is selected from this 3D information. The position and/or orientation of the object is then determined on the basis of the selected portion of the 3D information. The invention furthermore relates to a use of the method, a device for carrying out the method and a milking robot with such a device.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2013Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: GEA Farm Technologies GmbHInventors: Sergey Igorevitch Fedorenko, Konstantin Korovin
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Patent number: 9554551Abstract: A cleaning unit for cleaning at least one head section of a teat cup including a chamber that has a substantially circular cross-section, is delimited by a wall and has an opening delimited by a scaling element. The chamber has at least one inlet and is characterized in that at least one section of the sealing element or at least one section of the wall adjoining the opening and a section of the sealing element is or are flexible around the circumference of the chamber.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2009Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: GEA Farm Technologies GmbHInventors: Christelle Theis, Bendikt Schürmann
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Patent number: 9526224Abstract: A safety valve device for a milking installation for milking milk-producing animals having a first valve with a first port and with a first port connector, a second valve with a second port and with a second port connector, a third valve with a third port and a third port connector, a drive, a common actuator, and at least one valve spring, and arranged so that the first port connector of the first valve is in fluid communication with the second port connector of the second valve, and the safety valve device can be moved between a first switching position, in which the first valve and the second valve are closed in order to block the first port and the second port and the third valve, is open a transition position, in which the first valve, the second valve and the third valve are closed, and a second switching position, in which the first valve and the second valve are open to connect the first port to the second port and the third valve is closed to block the third port.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2013Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Assignee: GEA Farm Technologies GmbHInventors: Reinhard Balkenhol, Jake Kallenbach, Matthew J. Stuessel, Kevin L. Torgerson
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Patent number: 9426966Abstract: A milking cluster for a milking parlor for milking milk-giving animals, having at least one teat cup unit having a housing, a teat cup, a drive appliance, a pulling element arrangement connected to the teat cup, and the pulling element arrangement has a segment unit having at least two pulling elements.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2012Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: GEA Farm Technologies GmbHInventor: Otto Krone
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Patent number: 9326481Abstract: Methods and apparatus for milking animals wherein a negative pressure is periodically built up in a teat cup gap in an evacuation phase (a), maintained over a predetermined suction phase (b), and relieved in a ventilation phase (c), and a ventilation is maintained over a predetermined rest phase (d). The ratio between the suction phase (b) and the rest phase (d) changes at least once during the milking operation.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2014Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: GEA Farm Technologies GmbHInventor: Bernhard Schulze Wartenhorst
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Patent number: 9320254Abstract: The invention relates to a teat cup cleaning unit comprising a distribution unit which has an inlet (4) and at least two outlets (5) for a cleaning liquid. The distribution unit has a calming chamber (6) and a distribution chamber (7). The calming chamber (6) is connected to the distribution chamber (7) via an opening (8). The inlet (4) opens into the calming chamber (6). A cleaning liquid leaves the distribution chamber (7) through the passages (9) leading to the outlets (5).Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2009Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: GEA Farm Technologies GmbHInventor: Christelle Theis
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Patent number: 9277728Abstract: A device suitable for attachment to a milking platform at a “milking position” has a strippings viewing area and a light source, which is operable to illuminate in a suitable manner the strippings viewing area to enhance the visibility to an operator of any mastitis symptoms in use and/or to illuminate the udder to facilitate inspection or treatment. The light source may also be operable to give continuous or intermittent color signals to the operator and the device might also include an alpha-numeric area. The device might form part of a leg separator and/or sprayer and/or milk hose support. A milking platform with such a device is also claimed.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2011Date of Patent: March 8, 2016Assignee: GEA Farm Technologies GmbHInventors: Graeme David McDougal, Jamie Christopher Joseph Mikkelson, Rodrick Peter Staheli
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Patent number: 9253960Abstract: A milking unit is proposed, comprising at least one milk hose, having a first end section and a second end section, and a milk collecting component, which is connected to the first end section of the milk hose. The milk collecting component has at least one coupling element, which cooperates with the first end section of the milk hose. A clamping element is provided, which cooperates with the coupling element so that an essentially fluid-tight connection is generated between the milk hose and the milk collecting component.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2014Date of Patent: February 9, 2016Assignee: GEA Farm Technologies GmbHInventors: Markus Auburger, Thomas Orban
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Publication number: 20150173320Abstract: A safety valve device for a milking installation for milking milk-producing animals having a first valve with a first port and with a first port connector, a second valve with a second port and with a second port connector, a third valve with a third port and a third port connector, a drive, a common actuator, and at least one valve spring, and arranged so that the first port connector of the first valve is in fluid communication with the second port connector of the second valve, and the safety valve device can be moved between a first switching position, in which the first valve and the second valve are closed in order to block the first port and the second port and the third valve, is open a transition position, in which the first valve, the second valve and the third valve are closed, and a second switching position, in which the first valve and the second valve are open to connect the first port to the second port and the third valve is closed to block the third port.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2013Publication date: June 25, 2015Applicant: GEA FARM TECHNOLOGIES GMBHInventors: Reinhold Balkenhol, Jake Kallenbach, Matthew J. Stuessel, Kevin L. Torgerson
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Patent number: 9060493Abstract: A milking unit is proposed, comprising at least one milk hose (5, 30), having a first end section (6, 32) and a second end section (49), and a milk collecting component (7, 37), which is connected to the first end section (6, 32) of the milk hose (5, 30). The milk collecting component (7, 37) has at least one coupling element (1), which cooperates with the first end section (6, 32) of the milk hose (5, 30). A clamping element (9) is provided, which cooperates with the coupling element (1) so that an essentially fluid-tight connection is generated between the milk hose (5, 30) and the milk collecting component (7, 37).Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2008Date of Patent: June 23, 2015Assignee: GEA FARM TECHNOLOGIES, GMBHInventors: Markus Auburger, Thomas Rohring
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Publication number: 20150040831Abstract: The invention relates to a milking unit comprising a milk collection part and at least two milk tubes that are connected to the milk collection part. At least one end of the milk tube has an essentially spherical clamping body, the central point of the clamping body being offset in relation to the longitudinal axis (S) of the milk tube and/or the clamping body having a channel with a mouth. The longitudinal axis (S) penetrates a plane, on which the cross-sectional surface of the mouth lies at an angle that is not equal to 90°.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2014Publication date: February 12, 2015Applicant: GEA Farm Technologies GmbHInventors: Markus Auburger, Martin Neumann, Thomas Rohring
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Patent number: 8833300Abstract: A milking unit comprising a milk-collecting component and at least two milk tubes which are connected to the milk-collecting component.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2008Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Gea Farm Technologies GmbHInventors: Markus Auburger, Martin Neumann, Thomas Rohring
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Publication number: 20140158053Abstract: A dairy harvesting milk machine milk tube having an end, and a clamping body joined to the end and defining a duct with an outlet, and an axis of the outlet is at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the milk tube, and the angle is different from 90°.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2013Publication date: June 12, 2014Applicant: GEA FARM TECHNOLOGIES GMBHInventors: Markus Auburger, Martin Neumann, Thomas Orban
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Publication number: 20140137803Abstract: A milking unit is proposed, comprising at least one milk hose, having a first end section and a second end section, and a milk collecting component, which is connected to the first end section of the milk hose. The milk collecting component has at least one coupling element, which cooperates with the first end section of the milk hose. A clamping element is provided, which cooperates with the coupling element so that an essentially fluid-tight connection is generated between the milk hose and the milk collecting component.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2014Publication date: May 22, 2014Applicant: GEA FARM TECHNOLOGIES GMBHInventors: Markus Auburger, Thomas Orban
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Patent number: 8683945Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for milking animals wherein a negative pressure is periodically built up and relieved in a teat cup gap at a predetermined rate. The negative pressure is maintained over a predetermined suction phase (b) and relieved over a predetermined rest phase (d). The ratio between the suction phase (b) and the rest phase (d) changes at least once during the milking operation. In a preferred embodiment the first duration does not exceed a predetermined, first limit value and the second duration does not fall beneath a predetermined, second limit value.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2006Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: GEA Farm Technologies GmbHInventor: Bernhard Schulze Wartenhorst
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Patent number: 8671886Abstract: The invention relates to a milking unit comprising a milk collection part and at least two milk tubes that are connected to the milk collection part. At least one end of the milk tube has an essentially spherical clamping body, the central point of the clamping body being offset in relation to the longitudinal axis (S) of the milk tube and/or the clamping body having a channel with a mouth. The longitudinal axis (S) penetrates a plane, on which the cross-sectional surface of the mouth lies at an angle that is not equal to 90°.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2008Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: GEA Farm Technologies GmbHInventors: Markus Auburger, Martin Neumann, Thomas Rohring
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Publication number: 20140060436Abstract: A milking cluster used for milking a dairy animal in a milking parlor, the milking cluster including a teat cup unit, a teat cup, a drive device, a hose arrangement joined to the teat cup, a hose guide engaging the hose arrangement, and a flexible element that pivots the hose guide between a fixed position and a second position.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2011Publication date: March 6, 2014Applicant: GEA FARM TECHNOLOGIES GMBHInventor: Otto Krone
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Publication number: 20140041591Abstract: A milking cluster for a milking parlour for milking milk-giving animals, having at least one teat cup unit having a housing, a teat cup, a drive appliance, a pulling element arrangement connected to the teat cup, and the pulling element arrangement has a segment unit having at least two pulling elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2012Publication date: February 13, 2014Applicant: GEA FARM TECHNOLOGIES GMBHInventor: Otto Krone
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Patent number: 8646411Abstract: Apparatus and method for milking animals, comprising a control device (2), four teat cups (6a to 6d), at least one collecting device (11a, 11b) for collecting the extracted milk and a milking line (15) for conveying the milk, said teat cups (6a to 6d) and said at least one collecting device (11a, 11b) and the milking line (15) being interconnected by way of milk lines (10a to 10d, 12a, 12b). A sensor device (13a) is provided and by means of said sensor device (13a) both the milk flow in at least one fore quarter (54, 55) of the udder (53) and the milk flow in at least one rear quarter (56, 57) is captured to separately control the milking operation by fore and rear udder half (58, 59).Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2011Date of Patent: February 11, 2014Assignee: GEA Farm Technologies GmbHInventors: Bernard Schulze Wartenhorst, Ralf Wiemann, Reinhard Frenser, Marcelo Alfredo Barba
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Patent number: 8607734Abstract: The invention relates to a milk tube for a milking unit, comprising two end regions lying opposite one another and an intermediate region, all regions being interconnected to form one piece. The intermediate region is composed of a soft material and at least one end region is composed of at least one hard material.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2008Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: GEA Farm Technologies GmbHInventors: Markus Auburger, Reinhard Frenser