Abstract: Sensor system with a sensor device having a through-flow cell for liquid, a detector device for measuring a property of the liquid in the through-flow cell and for generating an associated detector signal, a sensor control for analyzing the detector signal, wherein the sensor control detects a liquid transition between two different liquids in the through-flow cell when a change (per unit time) in the detector signal is greater than a threshold value. In the case of such a liquid transition detection, the sensor control generates an alarm signal. Liquid transition detection is carried out by optical, temperature and/or conductivity sensors.

Abstract: An arrangement and a method for indicating an undesired detachment of a milking member from an animal in a milking stall. The arrangement includes a removing device adapted to detach the milking member from the animal and move the detached milking member to a parking position when the milking process has been completed, and a supervision device adapted to supervise when the milking member has been detached from the animal before the milking process has been completed. When the milking member has been detached from the animal before the milking process has been completed, the removing device is adapted to move the undesirably detached milking member to an indicating position located at a distance from the parking position.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for milking animals, comprising a control device (2), four teat cups (6a to 6d), at least one collecting device (11a, 11b) for collecting the extracted milk and a milking line (15) for conveying the milk, said teat cups (6a to 6d) and said at least one collecting device (11a, 11b) and the milking line (15) being interconnected by way of milk lines (10a to 10d, 12a, 12b). A sensor device (13a) is provided and by means of said sensor device (13a) both the milk flow in at least one fore quarter (54, 55) of the udder (53) and the milk flow in at least one rear quarter (56, 57) is captured to separately control the milking operation by fore and rear udder half (58, 59).

Abstract: A teatcup (1) and a teatcup liner (3) for a teatcup to be attached to a teat of an animal for the performance of a milking operation. The teatcup liner defines an inner space for receiving the teat and a longitudinal center axis (x) extending through the inner space. The teatcup liner is composed of at least three separate annular sections, which are attached to each other and arranged successively after each along the longitudinal center axis. A first section (11) forms an upper part having an opening for allowing the teat to be introduced into the inner space. A second section (12) forms a tube part engaging the teat during the milking operation. A third section (13) forms a ring module having an inner surface facing the inner space. The ring module includes a functional member providing an additional function to the milking operation.

Abstract: A method and system for cleaning of milking systems—creates slugs of cleaning liquid in milking systems in response to the detection of the presence of cleaning liquid. The milking system includes a milk conduit (3), a liquid sensor (4) for detecting the presence of liquid in the milk conduit (3), a vacuum source (7) for applying a suction pressure to the milk conduit and cleaning equipment (12, 13) including elements supplying cleaning liquid into the milk conduit and an air injector (16) arranged to supply air into the milk conduit, the system being adapted to supply cleaning liquid into the milk conduit, apply a suction pressure to the cleaning liquid and supply air so that a liquid slug is created that flushes the milk conduit. The liquid sensor (4) is adapted to sense the presence of cleaning liquid supplied to the milk conduit, and the system is adapted to supply the air based on the detection of the presence of cleaning liquid.

Abstract: Milk flow detecting method and device monitors a flow of milk in a milk line which is connected to a teat cup and which has an aeration opening, like in a milking device. For this purpose, the milk filling level is monitored in a measuring section of the line. If the variation therein is too little, the absence of a flow, or at least an inadequate flow, is established. If, additionally, a (sufficient) filling level is detected, it can be concluded that there is an obstructed aeration opening.

Abstract: An arrangement and a method for indicating an undesired detachment of a milking member from an animal in a milking stall. The arrangement includes a removing device adapted to detach the milking member from the animal and move the detached milking member to a parking position when the milking process has been completed, and a supervision device adapted to supervise when the milking member has been detached from the animal before the milking process has been completed. When the milking member has been detached from the animal before the milking process has been completed, the removing device is adapted to move the undesirably detached milking member to an indicating position located at a distance from the parking position.

Abstract: An adaptive milking system comprises a milk meter, a controller, and a detacher. The milk meter measures a flow rate of milking an animal during a first period of time, and continues to monitor the flow rate of milking the animal. The controller is communicatively coupled to the milk meter and calculates a percentage of the measured flow rate. The controller triggers a delay timer when the monitored flow rate of milking the animal becomes lower than the larger of (a) a default threshold flow rate and (b) the calculated percentage of the measured flow rate. The detacher is communicatively coupled to the controller and removes a milking unit from the animal when the delay timer reaches a threshold time.

Abstract: In order to measure a milk flow, a device is proposed that has a channel that has an inlet and an outlet. At least two electrically conducting element are provided in the channel that are arranged at a distance from one another. At least one element has an essentially annular form. Furthermore, at least one element has an essentially pin-shaped form. With the aid of this design according to the invention of a device for the measurement of a milk stream, a relatively simple construction is achieved, which has a relatively high measuring accuracy.

Abstract: A method and system for cleaning of milking systems—creates slugs of cleaning liquid in milking systems in response to the detection of the presence of cleaning liquid. The milking system includes a milk conduit (3), a liquid sensor (4) for detecting the presence of liquid in the milk conduit (3), a vacuum source (7) for applying a suction pressure to the milk conduit and cleaning equipment (12, 13) including elements supplying cleaning liquid into the milk conduit and an air injector (16) arranged to supply air into the milk conduit, the system being adapted to supply cleaning liquid into the milk conduit, apply a suction pressure to the cleaning liquid and supply air so that a liquid slug is created that flushes the milk conduit. The liquid sensor (4) is adapted to sense the presence of cleaning liquid supplied to the milk conduit, and the system is adapted to supply the air based on the detection of the presence of cleaning liquid.

Abstract: A rotary parlour for automatic milking of animals includes an annular rotary platform (2) adapted to form a support surface for the animals (1), driving element (9) for supplying a rotary motion to the platform (2), positioning element for arranging the animals in predetermined milking positions (3) on the platform, in which an longitudinal axis (1a) of the animals forms an angle to the direction of motion (1b) of the animals standing on the rotary platform (2), and a robot arm (13) adapted to attach teat cups (7a) to the teats of an animal (1) which has entered a milking position (3) on the platform (2). The entire robot arm (13) is located in a working position vertically above or on the platform (2) when it attaches the teat cups to the teats of the animals (1).

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.

Abstract: There is provided a method for monitoring a vacuum system such as that used in a dairy milking system. Several independent measurements are made whereby a long term degradation of the vacuum pump or other component in the vacuum system may be identified before system performance drops below acceptable limits. Baseline data generated when the vacuum system is known to be in good working order. The baseline data is used to compare operation of the vacuum system. An alarm signal or other indication may be generated to alert an operator that vacuum system performance has degraded beyond an acceptable limit. Such predictive failure techniques allow maintenance to be performed on the vacuum system long before performance degrades to a point where a system becomes inoperative.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device and a method for sampling of milk. The device includes a collecting member (15, 15?) arranged to receive milk samples from a milk line (1), which is arranged to transport milk from one animal (3) at a time, and a passage (8a, 12?, 13) arranged to allow a milk flow from the milk line (1) to the collecting member (15, 15?). The device comprises flow means (11, 19) arranged to provide a milk flow, from the animal (3), through at least a part of the passage (8a, 12?, 13) at least a time period before a milk sample is to be taken in order to rinse at least the part of the passage (8a, 12?, 13) from milk residues from a previously milked animal.

Abstract: A milk flow device which includes a conduit for transporting a substantially continuous milk flow varying in height up to a maximum height wherein the maximum height is less than a fluid height which would occlude the conduit and interrupt the vacuum level is shown. A first sensor determines the height of a selected section of the substantially continuous milk flow. The first sensor has a predetermined cross-sectional area and defines an opening for passing a milk flow therethrough. The first sensor is located at a predetermined location in the conduit. A second sensor having a cross-sectional area substantially equal to the cross sectional area of the first sensor is spaced within the conduit in a selected direction and a known distance from the first sensor. The second sensor determines that the selected section of the continuous milk flow has traversed the known distance. A conductivity sensor measures the conductivity of the milk.

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 device for separating milk obtained from a dairy animal. The device is provided with a processing device and with a measuring device for measuring a value of a variable in relation to the dairy animal and for issuing a signal indicative of the measured value to the processing device. The processing device comprises a memory suitable for containing a reference value for the variable in relation to the dairy animal. The processing device comprises a comparing device for comparing the measured value of the variable with the reference values and for issuing a comparison signal, the device separating milk in dependence on the comparison signal. The device is provided with a means for determining the period between two successive milking runs of the dairy animal, and the memory contains various reference values for the variable, the reference values depending on the measured period.

Abstract: In a system and a method for monitoring the physical condition of a herd of livestock, errors between values predicted in accordance with a time-series model and corresponding measured values are used for determining a confidence interval for a prediction for each animal individually the significance of an error between a prediction and a measured value regarding the likelihood that the animal is in heat or suffers from a disease is automatically assessed for each animal individually. There is no need to determine dedicated confidence intervals for different situations and properties. A better fit of the time-series model automatically results in a narrowed confidence interval.