Abstract: A cleaning device for cleaning the exterior of at least a part of a milking parlour. The milking parlour comprises a milking robot and a base on which an animal to be milked can stand. The cleaning device is provided with a source of cleaning foam. A method of cleaning the exterior of at least a part of a milking parlour is also disclosed. The method comprises the step of applying a cleaning foam on at least said part of the milking parlour.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for milking an animal such as a cow. The device is provided with a teat cup to be connected to a teat of the animal. The teat cup has a liner that divides the teat cup into a teat space and a pulsation space. A milking vacuum unit applies a milking vacuum in the teat space. The milking vacuum unit comprises a milking vacuum source and a milking vacuum shutting-off device for shutting off the teat cup from the milking vacuum. A pulsation vacuum unit applies a pulsation vacuum in the pulsation space. The pulsation vacuum unit comprises a pulse line portion and a pulsator. The device comprises a mounting block, the mounting block comprising the pulse line portion and the mounting block being provided with a first fastening portion for detachably fastening the milking vacuum shutting-off device and with a second fastening portion for detachably fastening the pulsator.

Abstract: A method of performing an animal related action on an animal by means of a robot arm is disclosed. The method includes carrying out measurements on the animal by means of a sensor for locating at least one animal part, generating, on the basis of the measurements, a list of data each corresponding to a possible animal part, comparing the data on the list with historical data regarding at least one animal part, assigning to each of the data on the list, on the basis of the comparison, a probability value for actual correspondence with at least one animal part, selecting as target position that possible target position that corresponds to the data on the list having the highest probability value and moving the robot arm to the target position which corresponds to the animal part found and performing there the animal related action.

Abstract: A device for automatically milking dairy animals. The device has a teat cup for drawing milk from a dairy animal and for generating a milk-air mixture, a robot arm for automatically connecting the teat cup to a teat of the dairy animal, a single milk-collecting vessel provided with a vacuum connection connected to a vacuum source, a milk outlet for discharging the milk to milk-processing means, such as a milk-cooling tank and at least one milk inlet for letting the milk-air mixture in, at least one milk connection device between a teat cup and the milk inlet for conveying the milk-air mixture, and a vessel-cooling device for cooling the contents of a milk-collecting vessel, which vessel-cooling device comprises a cooling surface having a milk side for contact with the milk and having a cooling medium side for contact with a cooling medium.

Abstract: A device for crop processing. The device is autonomously movable, and is provided with a mowing unit for mowing the crop, with a rake unit for raking mown crop, and with a tedder unit for tedding mown crop. The device is further provided with a position-determining system for determining the position of the device, with a boundary-detecting system for detecting a boundary of mown crop, and with a control device for controlling the device with the aid of data from the position-determining system and/or the boundary-detecting system.

Abstract: An assembly for performing a crop harvesting operation. The device is provided with an autonomous harvesting machine that is movable over a parcel for performing the crop harvesting operation, the autonomous harvesting machine being provided with a machine container for containing a first amount of harvested product, and with a harvest container for containing the harvested product. The assembly is provided with a measuring device for measuring the amount of product in the machine container and with a control unit for automatically moving the harvesting machine to the harvest container with the aid of data from the measuring device. A device for baling. The device is an autonomous baler that is movable over a parcel. A device for chopping crop. The device is an autonomous chopper that is movable over a parcel.

Abstract: A device for automatically milking an animal. The device is provided with at least two teat cups to be connected to respective teats of the animal. The milking vacuum unit generates a milking vacuum in the teat cups, which milking vacuum unit comprises at least two vacuum lines that are each connectable to a respective teat cup. The milking vacuum unit comprises a common vacuum pump and a common buffer vessel to which vacuum can be applied by means of the common vacuum pump. All vacuum lines are connectable to the common buffer vessel. An individual buffer vessel is provided in each vacuum line and is disposed between the common buffer vessel and the respective teat cup. An individual buffer vessel is connectable to the common buffer vessel by a first vacuum line portion and is connectable to the respective teat cup by a second vacuum line portion. An individual buffer vessel is provided with a respective individual vacuum pump for applying vacuum to the individual buffer vessel.

Abstract: An assembly for performing an agricultural operation, in particular crop processing. The assembly is provided with an autonomous agricultural machine that is movable over a parcel for performing the agricultural operation, the agricultural machine includes a machine container detachably disposed on the agricultural machine for containing an amount of the product required for performing the agricultural operation. A container for containing a stock of a product required for performing the agricultural operation is also provided and a control-unit automatically moves the agricultural machine to the container where a conveying device automatically exchanges the container with the machine container. Due to the fact that the machine container can be exchanged automatically and quickly with an exchange container, the assembly is relatively efficient in use.

Abstract: A device for automatically milking an animal, which device is provided with a milking robot, a computer for controlling the operation of the device, a measuring device for performing measurements on milk obtained from an animal, at least two teat cups, and a common milk line for discharging milk coming from the at least two teat cups, each teat cup being connected via a teat cup line to the common milk line. The device is provided with a milk-determining element for determining the teat cup from which comes the milk present in the common milk line and for emitting a determination signal. The measuring device comprises a common sensor for performing measurements on milk obtained from an animal and for emitting a measurement signal. The common sensor is disposed in the common milk line. The computer is suitable for combining the measurement signal and the determination signal.

Abstract: An autonomous agricultural machine for performing an agricultural operation, in particular crop processing. The agricultural machine is autonomously displaceable over an agricultural parcel. The agricultural machine is provided with a drive and with a movable agricultural device for performing the agricultural operation. The agricultural machine is provided with a protecting element for protecting the moving agricultural device, with a displacement-detector for detecting displacement of the agricultural machine and for emitting a displacement signal, and with an operating device for operating the protecting element in dependence on the displacement signal.

Abstract: An assembly for performing an agricultural operation, in particular crop processing. The assembly is provided with an autonomous agricultural machine that is movable over a parcel for performing the agricultural operation and with a control unit for controlling the functioning of the autonomous agricultural machine. The control unit is provided with a memory containing sound-standard data. The control unit controls the functioning of the autonomous agricultural machine with the aid of the sound-standard data. An autonomous agricultural machine for performing the agricultural operation. The autonomous agricultural machine is provided with a control unit for controlling the functioning of the autonomous agricultural machine, with a position-determining system for determining the momentary position of the agricultural machine in the parcel, and with a sound meter. The control unit is provided with a memory containing sound-standard data.

Abstract: A method of automatically milking an animal having at least two udder quarters. The milking of the at least two udder quarters is performed at least partially simultaneously. The method includes the step of controlling the milking intensity during at least a part of the milking of each udder quarter in such a way that all udder quarters will be milked-out according to a predetermined chronological order. The method also includes the step of determining, during milking, for each udder quarter a value of a milking parameter of the milk obtained from the relevant udder quarter, the milking intensity during at least a part of the milking of each udder quarter being controlled with the aid of the determined value of the milking parameter in such a way that all udder quarters will be milked-out according to a predetermined chronological order.

Abstract: An agricultural machine for performing an agricultural operation. The agricultural machine is movable over an agricultural parcel and is provided with an environment-sensor for measuring a current value of an environment-property, with a memory for containing a nominal value of the environment-property, and with a comparator for comparing the measured current value of the environment-property with the stored nominal value of the environment-property. The agricultural machine is further provided with a direction-of-travel-determining element for determining the direction of travel of the agricultural machine and with a braking-distance-determining element for determining the braking distance of the agricultural machine.

Abstract: An agricultural machine for performing crop processing. The agricultural machine is provided with a movable agricultural device for performing the agricultural operation. The agricultural machine is an autonomous agricultural machine and is provided with an outlet for discharging processed crop from the agricultural machine, and with a protecting element for protecting the outlet. The protecting element has such a flexibility and such a weight that the processed crop is not harmfully influenced by the protecting element.

Abstract: A method of and a device for automatically milking one animal selected from a group of animals, a milking criterion being established for a milking-related action, and a desired cumulative amount of milk to be produced by the group of animals being established. The milking criterion is adapted with the aid of the cumulative amount produced and the cumulative amount desired.

Abstract: A system for performing a first and a second agricultural operation on an agricultural parcel. The system is provided with a first autonomous agricultural machine for performing the first agricultural operation, with a second autonomous agricultural machine for performing the second agricultural operation, a control-unit for controlling the agricultural operations to be performed, the control-unit being suitable for subdividing the agricultural parcel into at least a first and a second parcel portion, and for first performing the first and the second agricultural operations on the first parcel portion, and subsequently on the second parcel portion.

Abstract: An agricultural machine for performing an agricultural operation, in particular crop processing. The agricultural machine is provided with a movable agricultural for performing the agricultural operation. The agricultural machine is provided with a detecting element for detecting a force acting on the detecting element and for emitting a detection signal depending on the detected force; with a protecting element for protecting the moving agricultural device, and with a displacing element for displacing, in dependence on the detection signal, the agricultural device and the protecting element relative to each other.

Abstract: A device for automatically milking an animal, which device is provided with a milking robot, a computer for controlling the operation of the device, a measuring device for performing measurements on milk obtained from an animal, at least two teat cups, and a common milk line for discharging milk coming from the at least two teat cups, each teat cup being connected via a teat cup line to the common milk line. The device is provided with a milk-determining element for determining the teat cup from which comes the milk present in the common milk line and for emitting a determination signal. The measuring device comprises a common sensor for performing measurements on milk obtained from an animal and for emitting a measurement signal. The common sensor is disposed in the common milk line. The computer is suitable for combining the measurement signal and the determination signal.

Abstract: A method of and a device for automatically milking one animal selected from a group of animals, a milking criterion being established for a milking-related action, and a desired cumulative amount of milk to be produced by the group of animals being established. The milking criterion is adapted with the aid of the cumulative amount produced and the cumulative amount desired.

Abstract: A device for milking animals is provided with at least two milking robots, each for automatically connecting at least one teat cup to a teat of an animal. Each milking robot is provided with a milking vacuum unit for generating a milking vacuum for milking an animal. The device is provided with a common ring line and with a controllable, central vacuum system for generating a vacuum with a first pressure on the common ring line. Each milking vacuum unit is connected to the ring line via a passage, control means being provided for controlling the size of the passage.