Abstract: A teat cup cleaning device having a heating chamber (2), provided with a discharge (3) which is closable by a valve (4), and arranged for connection to a teat cup. A filling device (20) is provided for filling the heating chamber (2) with an amount of cleaning liquid (11), and a heating arrangement is arranged to heat the contents of the heating chamber (2) to a temperature T higher than the boiling point Tk of the cleaning liquid at ambient pressure. The valve (4) opens in this situation to deliver the heated cleaning liquid to the teat cup. The teat cup cleaning device also comprising a connecting line (17) between a liquid supply and the discharge.

Abstract: Device for mowing crops, comprising a series of mowing units arranged side by side at predetermined distances, each mowing unit comprising a knife holder with at least one knife carrying portion for carrying a mowing knife, and a drive mechanism for each knife holder. The drive mechanism for each knife holder comprises a first drive element comprising a hub portion for carrying the respective knife holder, and a second drive element drivingly engaged with the first drive element to rotatingly drive the knife holder about a vertical axis. In normal operation, the knife holder and the hub portion form a unitary rotatable assembly which, at a position between the knife carrying portion and the hub portion, is provided with a break connection which is effective in a radial direction.

Abstract: The agricultural system includes a baling device having a bale forming mechanism to form a bale including a pivotable rear flap to open a baling chamber in which the bale can be formed, and a wrapping device to wrap the bale in wrapping material, the wrapping device including a wrapping table to support the bale during wrapping and wrapping mechanism. The wrapping mechanism has one or more movable parts that can be rotated during wrapping along a trajectory around the bale supported on the wrapping table. The wrapping device is partially located below the baling device, wherein the trajectory of the one or more moving parts of the wrapping device and a trajectory of the pivotable rear flap of the baling device are non-overlapping.

Abstract: Monomelic materials are described, comprising inorganic nanoparticles having covalently bonded to their surface at least one polymerizable organic moiety, preferably an ethylenically unsaturated organic moiety. These monomeric materials combine desirable properties of the inorganic particulate material and of the organic monomer, in addition to having the unique properties of nano-sized particles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lithography system for projecting an image or an image pattern on to a target such as a wafer. Energy that is accumulated in the target by the projection of the image or image pattern is removed from said target, such that expansion by local and/or overall heating is limited to a relevant pre-defined value, and wherein such heat removal is realised by the use of a phase transition in a heat absorbing material that is brought into thermal contact with said target. As a further elaboration, such material may be applied in combination with a further material having a superior coefficient of heat transport, and may be incorporated in an emulsion comprising a material having a superior coefficient of heat transfer. Said material may e.g. be adhered to a bottom face of the target, and may also be included in a frame.

Abstract: An installation for supplying liquid feed to an animal, such as a calf. The installation comprises one or more feed loading places and one or more feed unloading places, and one or more vehicles that are autonomously displaceable, controlled by a microprocessor or the like, between one or more feed loading places and one or more feed unloading places, each vehicle comprising a drinking nozzle, such as a flexible teat, which is movably mounted relative to the remaining part of the displaceable vehicle, and a height adjusting device for adjusting a height of the drinking nozzle.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning the floor of an accommodation of an animal includes a master unit and a mobile unit that is movable relative to the master unit. A floor-cleaning device and an air-flow-generating device are disposed on the mobile unit that is movable relative to the remaining part of the apparatus. The apparatus further includes a control system for controlling the operation of the apparatus. The control system activates the air-flow-generating device when the mobile unit moves away from the master unit and deactivates the air-flow-generating device when the mobile unit moves towards the master unit. After activation of the air-flow-generating device, the control system activates the floor-cleaning device when the mobile unit moves towards the master unit and deactivates the floor-cleaning device when the mobile unit has reached the master unit.

Abstract: A method of producing a textile article having a localized finish is described. The method comprises providing a continuous supply of a textile substrate, providing an array of digital nozzles, supplying a finishing composition to the nozzles and selectively depositing the finishing composition from the nozzles in a series of droplets to deposit a first predetermined pattern of droplets on a selected area of the substrate to endow a functional characteristic on the selected areas. In this way, it is possible to ensure that only those areas receive the finishing composition that ultimately require it. Usage of valuable chemicals and process time can hereby be reduced.

Abstract: A method of controlling a milking implement for automatically milking a dairy animal with an udder, such as a cow, which milking implement includes a camera and a teat cup. More particularly, the method includes attaching the teat cup to a teat of the udder, followed by producing by the camera an image of at least a part of the udder and of at least a part of the teat cup, making an analysis of the image of the udder with the teat cup, and performing at least one control action by the milking implement, based on the analysis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of an aqueous hybrid polymer dispersion comprising an auto-oxidatively crosslinkable polymer and an addition polymer. The invention further relates to the aqueous hybrid polymer dispersion obtainable by said process, the use thereof for the manufacture of coating compositions, ink compositions or adhesives and to coating compositions includes the hybrid polymer dispersion as a binder. The process includes a first polymerization step wherein a first hybrid polymer dispersion is formed by addition polymerization of vinyl monomers in the presence of dispersed auto-oxidatively crosslinkable polymer and a second polymerization step wherein secondary polymerization loci are provided in the first hybrid polymer dispersion to polymerise residual vinyl monomer of the first polymerisation step.

Abstract: An autonomous mobile milking implement having a frame with, a sub-frame which is adjustable in height and which has at least one teat cup holder and a teat cup movable relative thereto. The teat cup holder is tiltable, via a tilting mechanism coupled to the teat cup holder and the frame between a substantially vertical position and a second partially inverted position. The milking implement protects the teat cups against contamination and is capable of storing them in a compact manner.

Abstract: The invention relates to a charged particle multi-beamlet lithography system for exposing a target using a plurality of beamlets. The system has a beam generator, a beamlet blanker, and a beamlet projector. The beam generator is configured to generate a plurality of charged particle beamlets. The beamlet blanker is configured to pattern the beamlets. The beamlet projector is configured to project the patterned beamlets onto the target surface. The system further has a deflection device. The deflection device has a plurality of memory cells. Each memory cell is provided with a storage element and is connected to a switching electrode of a deflector.

Abstract: A method of milking dairy animals, wherein the dairy animals are milked by a milking implement. An access device is provided for allowing or not allowing a dairy animal access to a waiting area for the milking implement. The access device has at least a first and a second access state, which access states have mutually different accesses for the dairy animals to the waiting area. The method comprises the steps of providing the first access state of the access device; identifying by means of an animal identification system an animal which is milked by the milking implement; determining a milking implement processing data on the basis of the identified animals; comparing the milking implement processing data with a criterion; and providing the second access state of the access device when the milking implement processing data meets the criterion.

Abstract: Closing device assembly for systems for milking animals, provided with at least one primary passage and at least two secondary passages, wherein the primary and secondary passages are provided with first and second connecting edges, respectively, with respective openings each having an axis, further provided with at least one closing device for at least one unused, non-selected secondary passage, which closing device is provided with a closing edge, wherein of each set of connecting edges and closing edges to be connected to each other in each case at least one is provided with a seal, wherein the closing device assembly further comprises a first drive unit for mutual displacement of the first connecting edge and the second connecting edge of a selected secondary passage from an uncoupled position in which the axes of their openings are not in line with each other to a position in which the axes of their openings are in line, a coupling line, with each other, and a second drive unit for bringing said connecti

Abstract: The invention relates to a method, a control system and a shed wherein the lighting is adjusted depending on the presence of an animal in a specific section of a shed. The shed is divided into a number of sections, for example a separation section. When no cows have access to the separation section and the section is therefore empty, the control system ensures that the lighting in the respective section is switched off. As the control system according to the invention controls both access to the section and lighting thereof, it is possible to dispense with movement sensors for controlling lighting in the respective sections.

Abstract: A milking implement comprising a frame with, disposed thereon, at least one teat cup holder with a teat cup movable relative thereto, and a replacing element connected with the teat cup, wherein the frame further includes an intermediate arm connected with the frame and with the teat cup holder and having a first joint and a second joint about which the teat cup holder and the intermediate arm, respectively, are tiltable with the aid of the replacing element, and a spring coupled with the teat cup holder and the frame and, if desired, with the intermediate arm.

Abstract: A street lighting arrangement for providing light distribution over an angular range between an axis and a cut-off angle, the arrangement comprising a first array (1) of at least one LED (2) having a substantially planar distribution pattern, the first array being directed at an angle intermediate to the axis and the cut-off angle, a second array of at least one LED having a substantially planar distribution pattern, the second array being directed at an angle intermediate to the axis and the cut-off angle and generally opposite to the first array, a first reflector (14) directed to receive light from the first array (1) beyond the cut-off angle and reflect it as a substantially parallel beam in the direction of the second array at close to the cut-off angle and a second reflector directed to receive light from the second array beyond the cut-off angle and reflect it as a substantially parallel beam in the direction of the first array (1) and at close to the cut-off angle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dimmer triggering circuit (12) for triggering a dimmer in an alternating current network. The dimmer has a voltage-level detector (15), and a bipolar current source circuit (18). The voltage-level detector (15) detects whether an absolute value of an input voltage of the dimmer triggering circuit is below a threshold value. The bipolar current source circuit (18) provides a current if the voltage detected by the voltage-level detector (15) is below the threshold value. If the voltage detected is not below the threshold value, the bipolar current source circuit is deactivated. The dimmer triggering circuit (12), in operation, dissipates an average power less than 100 mW.

Abstract: A thixotropic agent comprising a first polyurea reaction product of a first polyisocyanate with a first amine and a second polyurea reaction product of a second polyisocyanate with a second amine different from the first polyurea reaction product precipitated in the presence of the colloidal particles of the first reaction product.

Abstract: Mowing device for plants, comprising at least one rotor with a rotor axis, in particular a vertical rotor axis or first rotation axis, and at least one blade which is driven in rotation by the rotor, in which the blade is attached to a blade holder, which is attached to the rotor so as to be rotatable about a second rotation axis which is situated at a radial distance from the rotor axis.