Abstract: For the milking of animals, in particular cows, in a milking installation comprising a plurality of milking places, a method and a device are proposed wherein the milk yields extracted during a milking session at some milking places or the characteristics corresponding to the milk yields are determined and evaluated and in particular compared with prognoses as to milk yield or characteristics. These measures allow on the one hand that sufficiently accurate data are provided for herd management while on the other hand the investment cost for a milking installation are reduced.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for machine-milking an animal using a pulsed vacuum with sequential evacuation and ventilation phases in a teat cup pulse chamber by creating an improved pressure curve during the evacuation phase, the ventilation phase, or both pressure changing phases by controlling a pressure change phase using at least two pressure changing speed rates.

Abstract: A teat cup liner for use in a milking cup is disclosed. The teat cup liner has a head with an insertion opening for an animal's teat. Joined to the head is a shaft and a holding rim. The holding rim at least partially surrounds and is spaced apart from the shaft. The teat cup liner holding rim has an inner surface that defines a number of recesses to enhance the durability of the liner. The recesses can be disposed circumferentially around the inner surface of the holding rim, and they can be disposed so that they are in contact with or near an end of the teat cup sleeve.

Abstract: The invention relates to a milking parlor and a method for manufacturing same, the milking parlor comprising a work area for an operator and a platform elevated relative to the area, which forms a standing and walking area for the animals to be milked, the platform comprising a substructure on its side facing the work area where a utility space is left open beneath the standing and walking area, and wherein the substructure is formed by load-bearing elements positioned one after the other in the lengthwise direction and configured to be substantially identical.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method for providing information about animals walking through an animal passage (I), the information comprising at least the number of animals walking through the animal passage, using a detection device having a sensor device connected to a processor for capturing animal data about animals walking through the animal passage, and an analysis device for recognizing animals in the data/signals captured by the sensor device for the purpose of outputting counter impulses when animals are detected in said signals, the sensor device being designed for producing 3D images, and the analysis device being designed for detecting animals in the 3D data of the 3D images and for counting the animals using said detection.

Abstract: To improve the transportation away of the milk within an arrangement comprising a teat rubber and a milk hose which has a curved section, wherein the arrangement has a flow path for conducting away milked milk, which flow path is connected to the surrounding atmosphere via a channel, it is proposed that the channel is designed in such a manner that the flow direction of the air flowing through the channel into the flow path of the milk corresponds essentially to the flow direction of the milk, and the channel is formed in one of the walls of the curved section.

Abstract: Safety switching device for a milking carousel, with a rotatably driven milking platform with a multiple number of milking stations, whereby preferably a milking machine is arranged at each milking station, and with at least one stationary, non-rotating animal passageway, as well as a gap arranged between the rotatable milking platform and the animal passageway, whereby the safety switching device has a movable switching paddle, as well as signaling device arranged or formed on the switching paddle, for triggering an alarm function, and whereby the switching paddle is designed and mounted in such a way that the distance to the outside peripheral edge (U) increases toward a free end.

Abstract: A milking cup for milking animals, the milking cup having a liner arranged inside a housing to define a pulsation chamber therebetween. The pulsation chamber is divided into multiple compartments so that vacuum pulsation applied to the pulsation chamber compartments causes controlled collapse of the liner on an animal teat inserted therein.

Abstract: The invention relates to a milk collecting piece comprising a housing upper part with at least two intake nozzles and a housing lower part with at least two chambers which are each flow-connected to an outtake nozzle via an outlet.

Abstract: 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 colour 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.

Abstract: A dairy stable (5) and a method for controlling a stable (1), preferably a dairy stable (5) for milking livestock (4), having at least one milking system including at least one, preferably automatic, milking stations (8, 9, 12, 13, 14), and where the individual animal's access to milking is controlled, preferably via a transponder or similar on the animal. Furthermore, a milking station (8, 9, 12, 13, 14) for use in connection with a method and a dairy stable (5). In this manner, it is ensured that, within a given time interval, all animals (4) are guided to one or more selected milking stations (8, 9) at least once, where the selected milking station or stations (8, 9) are adapted in a special way with test equipment for determining various conditions of or at the milk and differently as compared to other milking stations (12, 13, 14).

Abstract: The invention relates to a milk collecting device and a method for operating a milk collecting device, comprising a milk collecting vessel with an inlet and a controllable outlet and a measuring device, said measuring device comprising a first electrode and a second electrode at a separation from the first electrode, a power supply electrically connected to both electrodes and a measuring device for recording an electrical parameter. The power supply is connected to two connection points on the first electrode at a separation from each other such as to be in parallel with relation to the first electrode and connected to the second electrode by the measuring device in order to determine a characteristic measure for the filling level of a liquid in the milk collecting vessel.

Abstract: A dipping device for a milking system, especially for an automatic milking system designed as a milking robot with teat cups to be placed onto the teats of an animal to be milked, which is designed for contacting the teats of the animal with at least one fluid or several fluids, and the device has several dipping valve arrangements so that the dipping agent introduction to each teat of the animal can be controlled separately.

Abstract: A method for determining the quality of milk wherein a sample is examined and the type of at least one detected object is determined on the basis of at least one object recognition rule.

Abstract: The device for measuring the mass flow of a foaming fluid, in particular of milk during milking, comprises a housing having an inlet and an outlet, and a measuring device for determining the mass flow. The housing is structured such that mixing the foam portion with the liquid portion of the fluid can be achieved. To this end, the inlet runs substantially tangentially into the housing interior.

Abstract: 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).

Abstract: For the determination of the occupancy of a milking stall by an animal, in particular a cow, in a rotary milking parlor with a plurality of milking stalls which are disposed on a rotatable milking platform, a process is proposed in which the identification of the animal only takes place after it has entered the milking stall in which it is supposed to be milked.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cleaning unit for cleaning at least one head section of a teat cup. Said cleaning unit comprises a chamber that has a substantially circular cross-section, is delimited by a wall and has an opening delimited by a sealing element. The chamber has at least one inlet. The cleaning unit is characterised 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.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for measuring the mass flow, in particular of a foaming liquid, comprising a measuring device with two electrodes and at least one electrical means for generation of an electrical parameter and an analytical device. The electrical means is connected to the first electrode at two remote points, such as to be wired in parallel with the first electrode. The second electrode is connected to the first electrode by means of the analytical device.

Abstract: A device and a method for removing teat cups from the teats of a lactating animal, having at least two traction members driven by a common drive for removing the teat cups; and at least one clutch is provided for coupling the traction member to the common drive.