Abstract: A milking installation with a milking robot for automatically connecting teat cups to the teats of a dairy animal has milk lines extending between the teat cups and a milk de-aeration unit or milk glass. A de-aeration port is present at the top of the de-aeration unit and a de-aeration line connects the milk glass to a vacuum system. At the bottom of the milk glass a milk inlet line is provided which connects the milk glass to the milk pump. The milk pump includes a milk inlet, a pump housing, a milk outlet. The milk pump is a membrane pump which type of pump is known to be gentle to the milk and thus reduce occurrence of lypolysis of the milk when pumped through the milking installation.

Abstract: A portable apparatus for milking animals, that can be carried by a person to any location, preferably in a bag such as a hand bag, side bag or backpack. The portable apparatus includes a carrying device, a power unit including a vacuum pipeline, a milk pipeline having a milk reservoir, and a milking claw unit, having one or more teat-cups. The vacuum pipeline provides suction force to the teat-cups that operatively draw milk from the animal udder. The milk pipeline operatively connects the teat-cups to the milk reservoir. Vacuum force further creates partial vacuum in the milk reservoir, and along with gravity the drawn milk flows to the milk reservoir. The portable apparatus can be used to milk animals located at sites accessible only by foot. The portable apparatus can be used to milk colostrums after parturition, and to milk animals having infected udder/teat.

Abstract: A milk pump that is connected to, but electrically isolated from dairy lines, pipes, and other electrically conductive components using insulators in the milk pump between a motor and a pump.

Abstract: A teat cup has a nozzle in a head portion of a flexible liner of the teat cup for delivering fluid internally of the teat cup. The nozzle is directed so as to discharge fluid towards the discharge end of the teat cup. When milking is terminated, treatment fluid is injected through the nozzle into the head portion of the liner just prior to and/or as the teat cup is being withdrawn from the teat and, the teat cup wipes the fluid down the teat so as substantially to coat the teat. When the teat cup falls into an inverted rest position, after take-off, the interior of the liner may be flushed and dried with disinfectant, water and compressed air discharged upwardly into the liner by the nozzle. The discharge end of the teat cup may be fitted with a shut-off valve which can be actuated to prevent ingress of treatment and cleansing fluids into the milk tubes during the treatment and cleansing cycle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for transferring a liquid consumable product, such as milk, from a bulk storage tank to a transport vehicle receiving tank or from one bulk tank to another whether stationary or mobile. The system increases the efficiency with which the milk is transferred from the bulk tank to the transport vehicle by providing a centrifugal pump permanently positioned on the milk producer's premises proximal the bulk tank. The system includes an air-purge system for removing any residual milk from the pump and transfer lines once pumping has ceased, as well as a wash system for cleaning the pump system components after use. In addition to transferring milk from the bulk tank to the transport truck, the centrifugal pump is conveniently adaptable for use in the washing operations, thereby adding to the efficiency of the overall system.