Patents Assigned to Technologies Holdings Corp.
  • Arrangement of milking box stalls
    Patent number: 9883654
    Abstract: A system includes a first milking box stall of a size sufficient to accommodate a first dairy livestock and a second milking box stall of a size sufficient to accommodate a second dairy livestock. The first and second milking box stalls face opposite directions. An equipment portion is located between the first milking box stall and the second milking box stall. A robotic attacher is housed in the equipment portion and configured to service both stalls at different times. The robotic attacher comprises a gripping portion having a spray nozzle. The gripping portion is operable to rotate around a longitudinal axis such that during a milking operation the spray nozzle is positioned on the bottom of the gripping portion, and after the milking operation the spray nozzle is positioned on the top of the gripping portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Henk Hofman, Cor de Ruijter, Menno Koekoek, Michael A. Mills, Peter Willem van der Sluis
  • Portable heating system and method for pest control
    Patent number: 9807994
    Abstract: A method for killing pests in an affected area of a structure includes receiving a flow of water from a faucet, wherein the faucet comprises one of a shower faucet and a sink faucet and the temperature of the flow of water is at least 45 degrees Fahrenheit. The method continues by generating heated air using a heat pump by transferring heat from the flow of water to air, and emitting the heated air into an affected area in order to raise the temperature of the affected area to a target temperature greater than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The method concludes by monitoring a temperature of a flow of water as it is received and, automatically ceasing operation of the heat pump when the temperature of the flow of water is above a predefined limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Timothy S. O'Brien, Eric P. Camenga
  • Double-gripper for the application of teat cups to an animal to be milked, rinse cup for this and milking machine provided therewith, and a method for milking
    Patent number: 9807974
    Abstract: This invention is related to a double grab, its rinsing cup and milking machine provided therewith, and the method for automatically applying teat cups to the teats of an udder of an animal to be milked. The double grab according to the invention includes: —a first housing part provided with a first magnet designed to hold a first teat cup; —a second housing part, installed substantially in a horizontal plane next to the first housing part, provided with a second magnet designed to hold a second teat cup; —whereby each housing part is provided with separate pivoting means that can be activated and is designed to make the related housing part pivot around a pivoting axis which in use, extends substantially in a horizontal direction, substantially in a widthwise direction of the arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Hendrik Hofman, Peter van der Sluis
  • Vision system with leg detection
    Patent number: 9807972
    Abstract: A system that includes a three-dimensional (3D) camera configured to capture 3D images of a dairy livestock. The system further includes a memory operable to store a thigh gap detection rule set and a processor operably coupled to the 3D camera and the memory. The processor is configured to obtain the 3D image, to identify one or more regions within the 3D image comprising depth values greater than a depth value threshold, and to apply the thigh gap detection rule set to the one or more regions to identify a thigh gap region. The processor is further configured to demarcate an access region within the thigh gap region. The processor is configured to reduce the width of the access region by shifting a first vertical edge and a second vertical edge of the access region and to determine position information for the first vertical edge and the second vertical edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Mark A. Foresman, Bradley J. Prevost
  • Double-gripper for the application of teat cups to an animal to be milked, rinse cup for this and milking machine provided therewith, and a method for milking
    Patent number: 9807973
    Abstract: This invention is related to a double grab, its rinsing cup and milking machine provided therewith, and the method for automatically applying teat cups to the teats of an udder of an animal to be milked. The double grab according to the invention includes:—a first housing part provided with a first magnet designed to hold a first teat cup;—a second housing part, installed substantially in a horizontal plane next to the first housing part, provided with a second magnet designed to hold a second teat cup;—whereby each housing part is provided with separate pivoting means that can be activated and is designed to make the related housing part pivot around a pivoting axis which in use, extends substantially in a horizontal direction, substantially in a widthwise direction of the arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Hendrik Hofman, Peter van der Sluis
  • System and method for heating a pipeline using heated lines
    Patent number: 9810448
    Abstract: A system for heating a pipeline comprises a heater operable to heat a fluid, a supply line and a return line. A first strap is positioned at a first portion of a pipeline. A first pocket of the first strap holds the supply line in thermal contact with the first portion of the pipeline. A second pocket of the first strap holds the return line in thermal contact with the first portion of the pipeline. A second strap is positioned at a second portion of the pipeline. A third pocket of the first strap holds the supply line in thermal contact with the second portion of the pipeline. A fourth pocket holds the return line in thermal contact with the second portion of the pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Robert M. Myerholtz, Jr., Larry L. Dancey
  • Vision system with automatic teat detection
    Patent number: 9807971
    Abstract: A system including a 3D camera, memory, and a processor. The processor is configured to obtain the 3D image, identify one or more regions within the 3D image comprising depth values greater than a depth value threshold, and apply the thigh gap detection rule set to identify a thigh gap region. The processor is further configured to demarcate an access region within the thigh gap region, demarcate a teat detection region, partition the 3D image within the teat detection region to generate a plurality of image depth planes, and examine each of the plurality of image depth planes. The processor is further configured to identify one or more teat candidates within the image depth plane, apply the teat detection rule set to the one or more teat candidates to identify one or more teats, and determine position information for the one or more teats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Mark A. Foresman, Bradley J. Prevost
  • Automated system for applying disinfectant to the teats of dairy livestock
    Patent number: 9775325
    Abstract: A spray tool coupled to a robotic arm that extends between the legs of dairy livestock, comprises a linear member and a plurality of spray nozzles. The linear member rotates about an axis that is perpendicular to the robotic arm, and has a perimeter that lies within an outer perimeter of the robotic arm when the robotic arm extends between the legs of a dairy livestock. The plurality of spray nozzles are coupled to the linear member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Henk Hofman, Peter Willem Van der Sluis, Ype Groensma
  • Milking box with robotic attacher
    Patent number: 9763422
    Abstract: A system includes a milking box stall of a size sufficient to accommodate a dairy livestock. The milking box stall comprises a front wall, a rear wall, a first side wall and a second side wall. The system further includes an equipment portion located adjacent to the rear wall. The equipment portion comprises a separation container for use with only the milking box stall and that is operable to receive milk from the dairy livestock to be discarded if it is determined to be bad milk. The equipment portion further comprises a receiver jar for use with only the milking box stall and that is operable to receive milk from the dairy livestock if it is determined to be good milk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Henk Hofman, Peter Willem van der Sluis, Ype Groensma
  • Vision system for facilitating the automated application of disinfectant to the teats of dairy livestock
    Patent number: 9763424
    Abstract: A system includes a controller and a robotic arm. The controller accesses an image signal of an udder of a dairy livestock, and determines a spray position by processing the accessed image signal to determine a tangent at the rear of the udder and a tangent at the bottom of the udder. The spray position is a position relative to the intersection of the two tangents. A robotic arm communicatively coupled to the controller positions a spray tool at the spray position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Henk Hofman, Peter Willem van der Sluis, Ype Groensma
  • Milking box with robotic attacher
    Patent number: 9756830
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Henk Hofman, Peter Willem van der Sluis, Ype Groensma
  • System and method of attaching cups to a dairy animal
    Patent number: 9743635
    Abstract: A robotic attacher retrieves a preparation cup from an equipment area of a milking box located behind a dairy livestock. The robotic attacher attaches and detaches the preparation cup to the teats of the dairy livestock in sequence. The sequence comprises attaching and detaching the preparation cup to the right front teat, the left front teat, the left rear teat, and the right rear teat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Henk Hofman, Cor de Ruijter, Menno Koekoek, Peter Willem van der Sluis
  • Connector plug having a sealing hook with a bevel surface and flexible ridges
    Patent number: 9748754
    Abstract: A connector plug comprises a hook with flexible edges. The hook has a first beveled surface and a second flat surface. A stopper is coupled to the flat surface of the hook by a first barrel portion of the connector plug. The stopper is coupled to a plurality of ridges with flexible edges by a second barrel portion. The plurality of ridges are also coupled to each other by the second barrel portion. A via extends through the connector plug from one end of the connector plug to the other end of the connector plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Rafael Antonio Fematt Madinabeitia, Jorge L. Mireles Jasso
  • System and method for analyzing data captured by a three-dimensional camera
    Patent number: 9737040
    Abstract: A system includes a three-dimensional camera and a processor communicatively coupled to the three-dimensional camera. The processor is operable to determine a first and second edge of a dairy livestock. The first edge includes an inner portion of a first hind leg and a first portion of an udder of the dairy livestock. The second edge includes an inner portion of a second hind leg and a second portion of the udder of the dairy livestock. The processor calculates a reference point associated with the udder of the dairy livestock based at least in part upon the first edge and the second edge. A robotic attacher moves toward the udder of the dairy livestock based at least in part upon the calculated reference point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Henk Hofman, Cor de Ruijter, Menno Koekoek, Peter Willem van der Sluis
  • Arrangement of milking box stalls
    Patent number: 9737048
    Abstract: A system includes includes a first milking box stall of a size sufficient to accommodate a first dairy livestock and a second milking box stall of a size sufficient to accommodate a second dairy livestock. The first and second milking box stalls face opposite directions. An equipment portion is located between the first milking box stall and the second milking box stall. A robotic attacher is housed in the equipment portion and configured to service both stalls at different times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Henk Hofman, Cor de Ruijter, Menno Koekoek, Michael A. Mills, Peter Willem van der Sluis
  • System and method of attaching cups to a dairy animal
    Patent number: 9737041
    Abstract: A robotic attacher retrieves cups from the left side of an equipment area located behind a dairy livestock and attaches the cups to the teats of the dairy livestock in sequence. The sequence comprises attaching a first cup to the left front teat, a second cup to the right front teat, a third cup to the left rear teat, and a fourth cup to the right rear teat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Henk Hofman, Cor de Ruijter, Menno Koekoek, Peter Willem van der Sluis
  • Robotic attacher and method of operation
    Patent number: 9737039
    Abstract: A method of operating a robotic attacher, includes suspending a robotic attacher from a rail and extending the robotic attacher between the legs of a dairy livestock. The method continues by attaching milking equipment to the dairy livestock using a gripping portion of the robotic attacher during a milking operation, wherein the gripping portion has a nozzle that is positioned away from a teat of the dairy livestock during the milking operation. The method concludes by rotating the gripping portion of the robotic attacher so that the nozzle is positioned to face a teat of the dairy livestock during a spraying operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Henk Hofman, Peter Willem Van der Sluis, Ype Groensma
  • System and method of attaching cups to a dairy animal
    Patent number: 9737042
    Abstract: A robotic attacher retrieves a preparation cup from an equipment area located behind a dairy livestock and attaches and detaches the preparation cup to the teats of the dairy livestock in sequence. The sequence comprises attaching and detaching the preparation cup to the left front teat, the right front teat, the right rear teat, and the left rear teat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Henk Hofman, Cor de Ruijter, Menno Koekoek, Peter Willem van der Sluis
  • Automated system for applying disinfectant to the teats of dairy livestock
    Patent number: 9737043
    Abstract: A method for applying disinfectant to the teats of a dairy livestock, comprises moving a carriage along a track. The carriage carries a robotic arm and the track is adjacent to a stall of a rotary milking platform housing a dairy livestock. The robotic arm comprises a first member pivotally attached to the carriage, a second member pivotally attached to the first member, and a spray tool member pivotally attached to the second member. The method continues by extending the robotic arm between the hind legs of the dairy livestock while the rotary milking platform rotates such that a spray tool of the spray tool member is located at a spray position from which the spray tool may discharge disinfectant to the teats of the dairy livestock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Henk Hofman, Peter Willem van der Sluis, Ype Groensma
  • Double-gripper for the application of teat cups to an animal to be milked, rinse cup for this and milking machine provided therewith, and a method for milking
    Patent number: 9713313
    Abstract: This invention is related to a double grab, its rinsing cup and milking machine provided therewith, and the method for automatically applying teat cups to the teats of an udder of an animal to be milked. The double grab according to the invention includes:—a first housing part provided with a first magnet designed to hold a first teat cup;—a second housing part, installed substantially in a horizontal plane next to the first housing part, provided with a second magnet designed to hold a second teat cup;—whereby each housing part is provided with separate pivoting means that can be activated and is designed to make the related housing part pivot around a pivoting axis which in use, extends substantially in a horizontal direction, substantially in a widthwise direction of the arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Hendrik Hofman, Peter van der Sluis