Abstract: An animal hoof cleaning system that includes an automatic milking station, an automatic spraying device configured to clean at least one hoof of an animal housed in the automatic milking station by spraying a fluid towards the at least one hoof, a control unit that controls the operation of the automatic spraying device, and detecting means that detects a milking state wherein all the teats of the animal are enclosed in respective teat cups, where the control unit is configured to control the operation of the automatic spraying device on basis of information from the detecting means such that the automatic spraying device sprays on the hoof of the animal only when the detecting means detects the milking state.

Abstract: An animal hoof cleaning system that includes an automatic milking station, an automatic spraying device configured to clean at least one hoof of an animal housed in the automatic milking station by spraying a fluid towards the at least one hoof, a control unit that controls the operation of the automatic spraying device, and detecting means that detects a milking state wherein all the teats of the animal are enclosed in respective teat cups, where the control unit is configured to control the operation of the automatic spraying device on basis of information from the detecting means such that the automatic spraying device sprays on the hoof of the animal only when the detecting means detects the milking state.

Abstract: A teat cup shell (2) includes a substantially tubular body having a center axis (4). A plane (6) extending along the center axis (4) defines a first shell portion (8) and a second shell portion (10) on opposite sides of the plane (6). The first shell portion (8) includes a magnetic material, and an outer surface (12) adapted to abut against at least one surface of an electromagnetic device. The first shell portion (8) and the second shell portion (10) differ from each other with respect to material composition and/or material thickness. The amount of magnetic material in the first shell portion (8) is higher than in the second shell portion (10). Further, a teat cup and an arrangement for automatically milking animals includes at least one robot arm (32) adapted to attach the teat cup (16) to a teat of an animal.

Abstract: A milking system includes a vacuum pump (11); milking equipment (15); a conduit (14) connecting the milking equipment to the vacuum pump; and a first vacuum regulator (25) provided to maintain a preset vacuum level in the milking equipment. A second vacuum regulator (27, 29, 30a) is arranged between the first vacuum regulator and the vacuum pump and is provided for regulating the preset vacuum to a desired level. Preferably, the second vacuum regulator includes a pressure sensor (30a) provided for measuring a pressure level in the milking system; adjustable air admitting elements (31), e.g. a solenoid valve, provided for admitting air to enter the conduit; and a control device (29) provided for controlling the second vacuum regulator depending on the measured pressure level.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided in a milking system for simultaneous milking of a plurality of milking animals, wherein the milking system comprises a plurality of milking positions (P1-P24) and an arrangement for establishing identities of and expected milking times for the milking animals. Each of the milking positions is provided with teat cups, which are attached to the teats of a milking animal and are connected to a source of vacuum to milk the milking animal. The inventive arrangement comprises means (10) for determining a milking position, at which the milking animal having the longest expected milking time is present, based on the established identities and expected milking times; and a device (11, 13, 17; 20) for performing an action with respect to the milking system in response to the determination.

Abstract: A milking system includes a vacuum pump (11); milking equipment (15); a conduit (14) connecting the milking equipment to the vacuum pump; and a first vacuum regulator (25) provided to maintain a preset vacuum level in the milking equipment. A second vacuum regulator (27, 29, 30a) is arranged between the first vacuum regulator and the vacuum pump and is provided for regulating the preset vacuum to a desired level. Preferably, the second vacuum regulator includes a pressure sensor (30a) provided for measuring a pressure level in the milking system; adjustable air admitting elements (31), e.g. a solenoid valve, provided for admitting air to enter the conduit; and a control device (29) provided for controlling the second vacuum regulator depending on the measured pressure level.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided in a milking system for simultaneous milking of animals comprising milking positions (P1-P24), each of which being provided with teat cups, which are attached to the teats of an animal and are connected to a source of vacuum to milk the animal. The arrangement comprises a processing device (10) for gathering and processing information of the milking of the animals, and terminal units (13) arranged at the milking positions and connected to the processing device (10). The processing device is provided for (i) receiving a user identity; (ii) retrieving a user specific setting based on the received user identity, said user specific setting defining user specific information of the milking of the animals; and (iii) transmitting information of the milking of the animals to the terminal units defined by the retrieved user specific setting. The terminal units output automatically the information received from the processing device.

Abstract: A method for calibrating milk meters in a milking system includes a milking station having at least one milk meter that measures a value of a milking performance of a milking animal. The method includes the steps: determining a reference value which reflects the amount of milk received from a number of milking animals during a selected time period in a reference unit, retrieving all measured values during the selected time period for each milk meter that by itself contribute to the amount of milk received by the reference unit, comparing the reference value with the sum of all retrieved measured values and calculating a correction function for one of the milk meters, and using the calculated correction function to adjust the measured value from the milk meter.