Abstract: An apparatus for milking animals comprising a milking compartment including a milking robot for automatically connecting and disconnecting teat cups from the animal's teats and for automatically milking the animal. Embodiments of cleaning members for automatically cleaning the teats of the animal before the teat cups are connected thereto are disclosed. The cleaning members include mechanisms applied to the teats of the animal for removing the foremilk therefrom before the milking operation, as such, commences. In lieu of the cleaning members which not only automatically clean the teats of the animal but also remove the foremilk, another group of teat cups are optimally provided for this purpose. The cleaning members comprise two-rotating elements of various cross-sections. Their phases of the rotation or the distance between their axes of rotation or the shape of the elements or a combination thereof can be selectively modified to remove foremilk or to clean the teats.

Abstract: An Apparatus for automatically milking animals, such as cows, by a milking robot which is connected to a refrigerated milk reservoir and controlled by a computer system. After emptying and cleaning the milk reservoir, cooling of the reservoir is automatically activated when the computer system senses that a predetermined amount of milk has entered the reservoir via the milking robot. An automatic cleansing system for the milking apparatus and an automatically replaceable milk filters are also disclosed.

Abstract: A milking apparatus comprising a circulation line in a milk circuit which includes a bulk milk tank, and a pump for circulating milk around the circuit including through the tank and through the circulation line. There are one or more milking compartments for automatically milking animals, such as cows, which are connected to the circulation line by supply lines. A milk filter can be incorporated in a circulation line or in a supply line or both. In one embodiment the milk filter is automatically renewable. It comprises a band of filtration material wound on two bobbins wherein the filter band intercepts the milk line at a bias cut between two clamping plates, one of which can be pivoted whereby the filter band is advanced automatically on a bobbin. Other filtration units are disclosed which may be manually replaced, one of which is contained in the bulk milk tank.

Abstract: A device for maintaining dairy animals and surface areas where they may be confined in a clean condition, and providing a station for feeding, milking and elimination of wastes which is movable as a unit. The station has a waste disposal at the rear and a feeder forward. An electronic system causes an animal to enter the station prior to waste elimination. A sensor determines the presence of animal waste. An electronic system that remotely guides the animal, comprises a radio transmitter at the station, a radio receiver mounted on the animal to guide the animal by shock or sounds to the station and/or sounds produced at the station attract the animal. A sensor on the animal's tail that signals the onset of elimination or presence of waste, may be coupled to the station's electronic system, or to a speaker near the animal's ear for producing unpleasant sounds to discourage elimination outside the station. Electronic systems are used to reward the animal after its elimination in the station.

Abstract: A mowing machine comprising a main frame has a plurality of driving units and intermediate pieces which are mounted alternately on a tie member. The tie member is under tension thereby pressing the driving units and the intermediate pieces together to provide a main frame which is substantially rigid. The driving units have cutting units with flexible hoods which are driven by a drive shaft through beveled gearing. The drive shaft is an elongated resilient rod of narrow diameter which is capable of substantial torsional displacement before its yield point is reached. The direction of rotation of each cutting unit can be reversed by removing the gear received on the driving shaft and turning it around.

Abstract: A spreader for granular and/or powdery material such as fertilizer comprises a hopper having two delivery parts. Distribution members are provided under the delivery parts for broadcasting material fed to them from the hopper. The distribution members are mounted on a carrier rigidly supported by the hopper. This construction results in a fixed position of the distribution member with respect to the delivery parts, regardless of deflections which may occur as a result of the weight of material in the hopper. The distribution members may be driven by a mechanical transmission from a power take-off shaft of a tractor, or by a hydraulic motor. The mechanical transmission includes a horizontal shaft connected to two vertical shafts for rotating the distribution members via bevel gears and is contained in a hollow tube with gear boxes on either end which maintain the axes and levels of the vertical shafts and distribution members in fixed relative positions.

Abstract: A spreader for spreading granular and/or powdery materials having a hopper and rotary distribution members with ejection blades on plates located below the hopper. The areas covered by the two distribution members can be adjusted so that they substantially coincide with one another. In some embodiments, the orientation of the ejection blades on the plates can be adjusted. Material flows to the distribution members through feeding means that include outlet openings and ports that can be in register with the openings. Also, displacers or closing members for affecting this flow can be positioned near the outlets at the lower portion of the hopper. A transmission, including change speed gears, can be connected through endless flexible members, i.e., ropes or belts to the shafts mounting the distribution members.

Abstract: A device for spreading granular and/or powdery material comprising a hopper for material to be supported and at least two distributing members rotated in opposite directions about vertical rotary axes, material feeding means provided between the hopper and distributing members for feeding material from the hopper to the distributing members so that each of the two distributing members receives the material eccentrically with respect to its rotary axis; the distributing members having such shape and being drivable in a manner, and the feeding means being constructed and disposed whereby in operation material is supplied to the distributing members so that each spreads material across a sector which substantially coincides with the sector across which the other distributing member spreads material. With such a device the material is advantageously spread uniformly and different materials may be spread in the same manner without the need for readjusting various members of the device.

Abstract: A shear pin coupling between two members has shear pins accommodated in a holder which is releasably mounted on a coupling member. The pins extend through holes in a supporting flange ring which is a component of the member. Resilient packing is positioned between the ring and the holder to prevent penetration of dirt to the pins. The resilience of the packing allows the holder to be tilted outwardly out of contact with an abutment surface of the member to allow removal of the holder.

Abstract: A mowing machine comprises a main frame (6) made up of driving units (36) and intermediate pieces (35) which are mounted alternately on a tie member (42). The tie member (42) is placed under tension, so pressing the driving units (36) and the intermediate pieces (35) together to make the main frame (6) substantially rigid. The tie member (42) is positioned substantially centrally of the driving units (36) and the intermediate pieces (35) so as to provide even loading of their mating faces. The driving units (36) have cutting units (8) with flexible hoods. The cutting units are driven by a drive shaft (41) through bevel gearing (46, 47). The direction of rotation of each cutting unit (8) can be altered by removing the gear (46) and replacing it to the other way round.

Abstract: A soil cultivating implement comprising a row of power-drivable, soil working members supported by a hollow frame extending substantially horizontally perpendicular to the implement's intended direct of operative travel to provide selectively upwardly or downwardly directed forces upon that row via the hollow frame. A supporting ground roller is connected behind the row, its rotary axis being contained in an imaginary vertical plane. A mobile implement provides mass to exert a downward force on the cultivating implement at a coupling point which, in turn, is translated into an upward force on the frame's forward aspect by way of arms and strong pivots, such arms being turnable about the ground roller's rotary axis. The upwardly directed force assists soil-working members automatically to elevate as needed for riding over rocks or other buried obstacles without significant damage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for working grass, hay or other crops on the field, provided with two rake members which are drivable about upwardly directed axes of rotation. During operation, the distance between the rake members can be changed by controls at the seat of the tractor on which the machine is mounted to adapt the machine to various circumstances. The machine is provided with swath forming crop guide members, the relative positions of which are automatically adapted to remain about the same irrespective of the distance between the rake members.

Abstract: A spreader for granular and/or powdery material such as fertilizer comprises a hopper having two delivery parts. Distribution members are provided under the delivery parts for broadcasting material fed to them from the hopper. The distribution members are mounted on a carrier rigidly supported by the hopper. This construction results in a fixed position of the distribution members (3, 4) with respect to the delivery parts, regardless of deflections which may occur as a result of the weight of material in the hopper. The distribution members may be driven by a mechanical transmission from a power take-off shaft of a tractor, or by a hydraulic motor.

Abstract: A spreader has a hopper the lower region of which comprises a wall portion which coincides in part with a sphere and contains outlet ports for material to pass at an inclined angle from the hopper to a rotating distribution member. The free aperture of each port is adjustable by a dosing slide. These dosing slides are controlled by an adjusting mechanism capable of displacing either one of the dosing slides without displacing the other.

Abstract: A mechanism that automatically attaches teat cups to a cow's teats including four telescopically extensible members which each carry a teat cup via a teat cup support which resiliently supports its corresponding teat cup in an upright position. Each extensible member has its own stepper motor to raise and lower the corresponding teat cup and a further stepper motor to move the extensible member horizontally within limits. An ultra-sonic radiation member is carried on a platform between the teat cups as seen in plan which emits a horizontal ultra-sonic beam that is reflected and focused upwardly and caused by movement of the reflector systematically to scan the cow's udder and to locate the teats by their comparatively shorter distances from the reflector. The disposition of the teats is thus sensed by a sensor unit which controls a stepper motors and causes the extensible members independently to raise the teat cups to be received by and attached to corresponding teats for the milking operation.

Abstract: An implement for milking an animal, such as a cow, that provides for sensor guided, automated attachment of teat cups to the teats of the animal's udder. Following attachment to the udder the teat cups are released from the attachment member and remain connected only by a flexible connection to the carrier during the milking operation, the flexible member permitting limited movement by the animal. Upon completion of the milking operation, tension is applied to the flexible connection and the teat cup is reseated on the attachment member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for working grass, hay or other crops on the field, provided with two rake members which are drivable about upwardly directed axes of rotation. During operation, the distance between the rake members can be changed by controls at the seat of the tractor on which the machine is mounted to adapt the machine to various circumstances. The machine is provided with swath forming crop guide members, the relative positions of which are automatically adapted to remain about the same irrespective of the distance between the rake members.

Abstract: An agricultural spreader comprises distribution members (11, 12) which rotate to eject material such as fertilizer. The spreader can tilt to one side or the other so as to reduce the spreading distance on one side. This facility enables the spreader to be driven on a field along the same tracks as other agricultural machinery while avoiding waste of material at the edges of fields. Other embodiments utilize braking members which are movable into the path of ejected material to reduce its kinetic energy and consequently its spreading distance.

Abstract: A mowing machine which has a rotary cutting member rotatably journalled to a shaft received in a drive housing. The drive housing has connected to it a supporting skid extending under and forward thereof for engagement with the ground. The skid defines, with the drive housing, a space which is filled with a lightweight material such as foam. The material prevents foreign matter from getting into the space, strengthens the skid, reduces the connective welding required and alters the weight and other characteristics of the machine. A plurality of like rotary cutting members with supporting skids are mounted side-by-side.

Abstract: A spreader comprises a hopper having two delivery parts. At the bottom of each delivery part there is a delivery member having an outwardly and upwardly inclined wall in which are which has outlet ports (29, 30) in it. The bottom of the delivery member (25) is closed by a distribution member (4). The inclined position of the wall of the delivery member (25) in which the outlet ports (29, 30) are provided enables high rates of flow of material from the hopper (2) to be achieved. A cover for the outlet ports is urged by clamping springs against the delivery member wall. Such wall and the cover conform to a conical surface and are movable relative to each other around the common vertical axis of their mating conical surfaces.