Abstract: A system and method of cleaning a plurality of teat cups (8a-d) includes using a robotic manipulation device (2) to move the plurality of teat cups (8a-d) from a first position to a second position, and cleaning the teat cups (8a-d) at a second position, wherein the robotic manipulation device (2) deposits the teat cups (8a-d) individually, in turn, at the second position.

Abstract: An animal treating arrangement includes a carrying device beside a milking platform rotating with a velocity and having animal places housing animals. The carrying device includes a fundament, a first bearing device (12) provided on the fundament, an arm (13) connected to the first bearing device permitting the arm to rotate in relation to the fundament around a first axis, a support platform (15) connected to the arm (13). A drive arrangement moves the support platform and includes a first drive member (31) rotating the arm around the first axis. A sensor (37) communicates with a control unit (36) and senses an instantaneous value of the velocity. The control unit controls the first drive member to move the support platform to follow the milking platform from a start position to an end position during a part of the rotation of the milking platform.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for locating a teat cup for use in a milking parlor. The apparatus includes a milking stall (7) provided on a rotatable platform (9) and a system (19, 245, 23, 25) for controlling movement of a teat cup magazine (20) relative to the stall (7). The movement control system permits movement of the magazine (20) between first and second predefined positions relative to the milking stall (7).

Abstract: An apparatus for milking an animal provides a milking parlor (1) with a robotic manipulation device (25) and a milking stall (5) provided on a platform (3) moveable relative to the robotic manipulation device (25). An electric control system is adapted to vary the movement of the platform in response to the performance of the robotic manipulation device (25) in servicing the milking stall (5).

Abstract: A teat cup handling device (1) for a robot arm is adapted to attach teat cups to a milking animal. Each teat cup (2) has a centrally located longitudinal axis (2c) extending through a first end surface (2a) of the teat cups provided with a recess for receiving a teat of a milking animal and a oppositely located second end surface (2b) of the teat cups and wherein the teat cup handling device (1) includes at least two holding parts (4) arranged to releasably hold the teat cups (2). Each holding part (4) includes holding elements (9a) adapted to hold the teat cups (2) in positions such that the longitudinal axes (2c) of the teat cups are inclined in relation to each other.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for recognizing and determining the position of at least one teat cup (401, 402, 403, 404) of at least one teat cup magazine (42, 421, 422). The apparatus (10) emits waves (20) into a region (A) which is expected to contain a teat cup or teat cups (401, 402, 403, 404). The apparatus (10) also includes a detector (260) for detecting reflections of the waves (20). The apparatus (10) also includes a unit (24) for evaluating the reflections in order to determine if the reflections originate from the teat cup or cups (401, 402, 403, 404). Furthermore, the apparatus (10) also includes a unit (26) for determining the position of the teat cup or cups (401, 402, 403, 404) if it is established that the reflections originate from the teat cup (401, 402, 403, 404).

Abstract: A detecting arrangement is provided for a teat cleaning device including a teat cleaning cup in which teats of milking animals are contained during cleaning thereof. The detecting arrangement comprises a measuring device provided for automatically measuring a teat related parameter in or adjacent to the teat cleaning cup at completion of a teat cleaning process, and a processing device operatively connected to the measuring device and provided for automatically comparing the measured teat related parameter with a reference value and for automatically determining whether the teat of the milking animal has been contained in the teat cleaning cup unfolded during the teat cleaning process based on the comparison.

Abstract: An arrangement for gripping at least one teat cup (1). The arrangement includes a storing device (10) adapted to hold the teat cup (1) in a parked position and a gripping device (2) adapted to grip the parked teat cup (1) in the storing device (10). The gripping device (2) includes a contact surface (6a) which is adapted to be moved to a position in which it comes in contact with a contact surface (1d) of the teat cup (1) during a gripping operation of the teat cup (1). The arrangement includes an adjusting part which is able to adjust the position of at least one of said contact surfaces (1d, 6a) in relation to the other contact surface (1d, 6a) from an initial contact position to a grip position in which the gripping device is able to grip the teat cup in the storing device.

Abstract: An apparatus for milking an animal provides a milking parlour (1) with a robotic manipulation device (25) and a milking stall (5) provided on a platform (3) moveable relative to the robotic manipulation device (25). An electric control system is adapted to vary the movement of the platform in response to the performance of the robotic manipulation device (25) in servicing the milking stall (5).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for locating a teat cup for use in a milking parlour. The apparatus includes a milking stall (7) provided on a rotatable platform (9) and a system (19, 245, 23, 25) for controlling movement of a teat cup magazine (20) relative to the stall (7). The movement control system permits movement of the magazine (20) between first and second predefined positions relative to the milking stall (7).

Abstract: A system and method of cleaning a plurality of teat cups (8a-d) includes using a robotic manipulation device (2) to move the plurality of teat cups (8a-d) from a first position to a second position, and cleaning the teat cups (8a-d) at a second position, wherein the robotic manipulation device (2) deposits the teat cups (8a-d) individually, in turn, at the second position.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided for attaching teat cups to teats of a milking animal in a rotary milking system having a milking stall for housing the milking animal during milking. The arrangement comprises a three-dimensional camera configured to be directed towards the udder of the milking animal in the milking stall and to repeatedly record three-dimensional images of the udder of the milking animal in real time. The three-dimensional camera is further configured to be directed towards the teat cups located in a magazine and to repeatedly record three-dimensional images of the teat cups in real time. The arrangement also includes an image processing device configured to repeatedly detect the teats of the milking animal and determine the positions of the teats in three spatial dimensions based on said repeatedly recorded three-dimensional images of the teats.

Abstract: A teat preparation station(1) for preparation of teats of milking animals prior to being milked in a milking system (11) equipped with at least one milking stall(13) is provided. The teat preparation station (1) includes a teat preparation area (2) housing at least one milking animal at a time; an exit (4) leading to the milking system; pre-milking equipment (5) provided for automatically pre-milking milking animals in the teat preparation area; and milk quality analyzing equipment (6) provided for automatically analyzing pre-milk from the milking animals.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for recognizing and determining the position of at least one teat cup (401, 402, 403, 404) of at least one teat cup magazine (42, 421, 422). The apparatus (10) emits waves (20) into a region (A) which is expected to contain a teat cup or teat cups (401, 402, 403, 404). The apparatus (10) also includes a detector (260) for detecting reflections of the waves (20). The apparatus (10) also includes a unit (24) for evaluating the reflections in order to determine if the reflections originate from the teat cup or cups (401, 402, 403, 404). Furthermore, the apparatus (10) also includes a unit (26) for determining the position of the teat cup or cups (401, 402, 403, 404) if it is established that the reflections originate from the teat cup (401, 402, 403, 404).

Abstract: An apparatus for milking an animal and provides a milking parlour (1) including first and second robotic manipulation devices (100, 200) and a plurality of milking stalls (5) provided on a platform (3) moveable relative to the robotic manipulation devices (100, 200) wherein the robotic manipulation devices (100, 200) are positioned so as to be capable of simultaneously servicing neighboring milking stalls (5) on the platform (3).

Abstract: A teat cup handling device (1) for a robot arm is adapted to attach teat cups to a milking animal. Each teat cup (2) has a centrally located longitudinal axis (2c) extending through a first end surface (2a) of the teat cups provided with a recess for receiving a teat of a milking animal and a oppositely located second end surface (2b) of the teat cups and wherein the teat cup handling device (1) includes at least two holding parts (4) arranged to releasably hold the teat cups (2). Each holding part (4) includes holding elements (9a) adapted to hold the teat cups (2) in positions such that the longitudinal axes (2c) of the teat cups are inclined in relation to each other.

Abstract: A placing device (1) for placing building elements (2) in constructing a multi-storey building comprises a lifting means (4) for lifting a prefabricated building element (2), a moving means (7) for moving the placing device (1) into and out of a lower storey of the multi-storey building, the lower storey being arranged under an upper storey, a rotary means (8) for rotating the building element (2) about a normal to a floor plane of the lower storey, a vertical adjustment means (20) for vertically adjusting the building element (2), and a control means (14) for controlling the placing device (1) for placing the building element (2) according to a predetermined pattern. A building system and a method of constructing a multi-storey building are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for automatic separation of foremilk and/or milk not suitable for consumption from the milk line system of a milking plant and an apparatus for carrying out said method. A separating device (44) is arranged at the ends of a milk line (52) and a test milk line (56), said milk lines being parallel. The separating device is designed with a damper means (48) attached to a cup (46). When milk is fed through the outlet (16), the cup (46) is filled up and its weight pivots the separating device from a first position, in which the inlet to a milk line (52) is closed by means of the damper mean, to a second position, in which the milk in cup is poured into a test milk line (56) and the damper means is lifted off the inlet (50|) to the milk line (52).