Abstract: A system for milking a group of animals, in particular cows, comprises an accommodation space for the animals, and several fixed milking stations. The milking stations each comprise an opening for entry of the animal from the accommodation space. The system comprises an automatic milking system for automatic milking of animals in the milking stations. The milking system is configured to automatically milk the animal based on the milking animal fulfilling a predefined milking criterion. The system comprises no expulsion means and/or attraction means which can be activated by a control unit to give stimulus for the animal to leave said milking station. The system is also configured to allow animals to enter the milking stations irrespective of whether said animals fulfil the milking criterion.

Abstract: A portable milking machine is provided. The portable milking machine includes a container, such as a jar. The container includes a rim forming an opening leading into an inside of the container. A cover releasably secures to the rim forming an air tight seal with the container. A first nozzle and a second nozzle forms a fluid connection between the inside of the container and the outside of the container. A vacuum pump powered by a power source is fluidly connected with the first nozzle. A first teat cup sized to receive a teat of an animal within and is fluidly connected to the second nozzle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a milking machine comprising at least one teat cup, a milk conduit and a milk collecting container. The milking machine is arranged to repeatedly go through a teat searching phase and a milking phase. The milk conduit is with one end connected to an outlet of the teat cup and with an other end connected to the milk collecting container. The milking machine comprises a milking pump arranged to apply a predetermined and controlled vacuum to the milk conduit to transport milk from the teat cup via the outlet to the milk collecting container during the milking phase. The milking machine comprises a suction pump arranged to generate a suction flow through the teat cup towards and through the outlet during a teat searching phase.

Abstract: A milking device includes a vessel and cover plate. The vessel and the cover plate form a sealed volume that is internally divided into a collecting chamber, a vacuum chamber and an air intake chamber. The collecting chamber is arranged between the vacuum chamber and the air intake chamber. The vessel has a first internal wall that separates the collecting chamber from the air intake chamber, with a first passage between the collecting chamber and the air intake chamber arranged at the first internal wall. The vessel has a second internal wall that separates the collecting chamber from the vacuum chamber, with a second passage between the collecting chamber and the vacuum chamber arranged at the second internal wall.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method in a milking system for creating a required vacuum level, the milking system comprising at least two variable speed vacuum pumps P1, P2. The method comprises the steps of: utilizing a first variable speed vacuum pump P1 for creating the required vacuum level within the milking system; monitoring the vacuum level requirement within the milking system, and when the vacuum level requirement of the milking system is such that the speed of the first variable speed vacuum pump P1 reaches a first speed threshold then: starting a second variable speed vacuum pump P2, and running the first and second variable speed vacuum pumps P1, P2 in parallel for creating the required vacuum level. The invention also relates to computer program products.

Abstract: A portable breast pump has a suction unit and a collecting unit which is connected to this suction unit via a flexible suction line. The collecting unit comprises a breast shield, a milk-receiving container and a coupling element which connects the breast shield to the milk-receiving container. The suction unit has a housing with an operating means for operating the pump and a fastening means for fastening the housing on a carrying means, which can be fastened on the mother's body. This breast pump is easy to operate, allows the milk to be expressed even in confined areas with no set-down surfaces and, in addition, does not hinder the mother's mobility.

Abstract: A system for milking animals comprises a plurality of milking machines (107), a common vacuum source arrangement (102-105), and a vacuum conduit system (101, 106a-l) connecting each of said milking machines to the common vacuum source arrangement, wherein each of the milking machines is connected to the common vacuum source arrangement via an air flow regulation device (108). Preferably, the common vacuum source arrangement comprises at least one vacuum pump (103-105) and a header tank (102), and each of the air flow regulation devices is provided to regulate the air flow from the milking machine, to which it is connected, to be lower than a threshold value.

Abstract: A valve provided with a passage for conveying a medium, the passage having at least a first closable aperture, and with a closing device that is suitable for closing at least the first aperture. The valve is provided with a holder element that is movably included in a holder element house chamber of the holder element house. The closing device is capable of being supported by the holder element or forms an integrated part of the holder element, and the closing device is controllable by the medium. The holder element is controllable, only by the medium, for releasing at least the first aperture by means of the closing device.

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: The present invention relates to a vacuum source for providing vacuum to at least a first vacuum drain through conduits, comprising at least a first and a second vacuum pump. The vacuum source comprises a control system adapted to detect the consumed airflow, and to control the operation of each of the first and second vacuum pump based on the detected airflow.

Abstract: A device for removing at least one teat cup (1a) from a teat of an animal includes i) a cylinder (2) provided with a movable piston (3) dividing an inner space of the cylinder in a first compartment (4) and a second compartment (5), ii) a valve mechanism (9) adapted to connect a vacuum source (8) to the first compartment (4) when it is in a first position and to break this connection when it is in a second position, iii) a passage (15) leading into the first chamber (4), and iv) a valve member (16) adapted to allow a flow through the passage (15) to the first compartment (4) during occasions when an operator moves the teat cup (1a) from a storing position to a teat attaching position.

Abstract: A device for milking animals includes a milking robot for automatically connecting at least two teat cups to the teats of an animal to be milked. The milk yielded is collected in a milk container. In each milk line, between a respective teat cup and the milk container, there is provided an auxiliary reservoir for collecting milk obtained at the beginning of the milking process. The auxiliary reservoir has an outlet aperture with a closing device. Each auxiliary reservoir is disposed in a respective mounting block, the various mounting blocks being arranged side by side, and the device is provided with an arrangement for simultaneously operating the closing devices.

Abstract: A stimulation device is provided for an automatic milking device having a plurality of milking cups. A vacuum device generates a negative pressure needed for milking and for the stimulation device. The stimulation device can be controllable to vary the stimulation independent from the pulsator system. Another system for stimulating milk producing animals includes a mobile stimulation device.

Abstract: A device for automatically milking an animal. The device is provided with at least two teat cups to be connected to respective teats of the animal. The milking vacuum unit generates a milking vacuum in the teat cups, which milking vacuum unit comprises at least two vacuum lines that are each connectable to a respective teat cup. The milking vacuum unit comprises a common vacuum pump and a common buffer vessel to which vacuum can be applied by use of the common vacuum pump. All vacuum lines are connectable to the common buffer vessel. An individual buffer vessel is provided in each vacuum line and is disposed between the common buffer vessel and the respective teat cup. An individual buffer vessel is provided with a respective individual vacuum pump for applying vacuum to the individual buffer vessel.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for milking an animal such as a cow. The device is provided with a teat cup to be connected to a teat of the animal. The teat cup has a liner that divides the teat cup into a teat space and a pulsation space. A milking vacuum unit applies a milking vacuum in the teat space. The milking vacuum unit comprises a milking vacuum source and a milking vacuum shutting-off device for shutting off the teat cup from the milking vacuum. A pulsation vacuum unit applies a pulsation vacuum in the pulsation space. The pulsation vacuum unit comprises a pulse line portion and a pulsator. The device comprises a mounting block, the mounting block comprising the pulse line portion and the mounting block being provided with a first fastening portion for detachably fastening the milking vacuum shutting-off device and with a second fastening portion for detachably fastening the pulsator.

Abstract: A device for automatically milking an animal. The device is provided with at least two teat cups to be connected to respective teats of the animal. The milking vacuum unit generates a milking vacuum in the teat cups, which milking vacuum unit comprises at least two vacuum lines that are each connectable to a respective teat cup. The milking vacuum unit comprises a common vacuum pump and a common buffer vessel to which vacuum can be applied by means of the common vacuum pump. All vacuum lines are connectable to the common buffer vessel. An individual buffer vessel is provided in each vacuum line and is disposed between the common buffer vessel and the respective teat cup. An individual buffer vessel is connectable to the common buffer vessel by a first vacuum line portion and is connectable to the respective teat cup by a second vacuum line portion. An individual buffer vessel is provided with a respective individual vacuum pump for applying vacuum to the individual buffer vessel.

Abstract: A vacuum control system for controlling vacuum while an animal is being milked. The vacuum control system comprises a vacuum pump which is interconnected to a buffer vessel via a vacuum line. Each teat cup of the milking apparatus has a milk line which interconnects the teat cup to the buffer vessel. The teat cup is also interconnected to the vacuum pump via a pulse line which contains a pulsator. A regulator which includes an rpm governor and an electronic filter unit is connected to the vacuum pump and also by the filter unit to a vacuum sensor which, in turn is connected to the vacuum line. The filter unit is connected both to the rpm governor and to an electronic fast-acting control valve which is activated by the regulator on the basis of signals which it receives from the vacuum sensor.