Abstract: A portable system for stunning an animal is provided that includes a hood into which the animal's head is inserted and then is filled with a gas, such as carbon dioxide. The hood includes a gasket or covering with a slit on one end, which allows the hood to be placed over the head of the animal by a user while containing much of the carbon dioxide gas. The hood includes a handle and may have a trigger or other mechanism to control the flow of carbon dioxide gas, which is contained in a tank strapped to a user and connected to the hood via a hose or tubing. In this way, the system allows animals to be humanely stunned or euthanized individually with carbon dioxide gas using a portable system that is carried and controlled by an individual user.

Abstract: The present invention provides provide adjustable dual rotary raking machines in which the lateral positions of the rotors and rakes may be moved while in use without stopping operation. The present invention also provides adjustable dual rotary raking machines which are suitable for collecting prunings from agricultural orchards or vineyards having low hanging branches. The present invention further provides adjustable dual rotary raking machines which may be easily collapsed for storage and transport into a small profile that allows multiple options for storing the machines, and does not require special permits to transport the collapsed machines on public roads.

Abstract: A belt conveyor system including an elongate housing having at least one troughing idler assembly disposed therein. The troughing idler assembly includes a center medial roller and a plurality of side rollers. Each of the rollers includes a shaft having ends supported by at least one bearing having a first face and a second face. The bearings supporting the side rollers are mounted to an exterior of the elongate housing in such a manner that the first face and the second face of at least one of the bearings are visible.

Abstract: A milking liner for an automated milking machine includes a barrel that moves between an uncollapsed position and a collapsed condition when it is subjected to a vacuum milking condition. The barrel defines at least three parallel channels open to the inner surface of the barrel. The configuration of the sidewall of the barrel and the channels cause the barrel to uniformly collapse when the barrel is subjected to a vacuum milking condition. In one configuration, ribs protrude from the barrel sidewall and define channels with the same wall thickness as the sidewall segments disposed between the ribs.

Abstract: A vent plug for a milking liner has an outlet that discharges the vent air in the downstream direction. The vent plug has an outlet disposed in the downstream portion of the inner flange of the vent plug so that vent air is directed toward the outlet of the short milk tube. The vent plug outlet also may be disposed in the upstream portion of the inner flange while being configured to direct the vent air in a downstream direction.

Abstract: Animal monitoring apparatus including an animal reviewing portion, an animal identifying portion and a control portion; the animal reviewing portion including at least one animal detecting station; the animal identifying portion including a transmitter section and a receiver section, the transmitter section being disposed on an animal, the transmitter section including a power source, a signal generator, a signal coder and an actuatable switch; the receiver section being disposed adjacent to the reviewing portion, the receiver section including a power source, a switch actuator, an antenna, a signal receiver, a signal decoder and a signal transferring mechanism, electrical circuitry connecting the receiver section with memory and comparing mechanism; whereby approach of an animal to the reviewing portion causes the switch actuator to activate the switch so a signal is generated, coded and transmitted by the transmitter section to the receiver section where the signal is received by the antenna and transferred

Abstract: Animal monitoring apparatus including an animal reviewing portion, an animal identifying portion and a control portion; the animal reviewing portion including a plurality of animal detecting stations, the animal identifying portion including a transmitter section and a receiver section, the transmitter section being disposed on an animal, the transmitter section including a signal generator, a signal coder and an actuator; the receiver section being disposed adjacent to the reviewing portion, the receiver section including a power source, a transmitter actuator, an antenna, a signal receiver, a signal decoder and signal transferring mechanism, each of the receiver sections being connected electrically with receiver sections of all other animal detecting stations and with interrogating mechanism, the interrogating mechanism sequentially searching each of the receiver sections in a continuous rapidly repeating sequence, memory mechanism capable of accepting an animal performance schedule, mechanism for comparin

Abstract: An automatic animal feeding apparatus including a feeding portion, a feed supplying portion, and a feed control portion; the feeding portion including a feeding station, the feeding station including a trough member, the feed supplying portion including feed storage mechanism associated with the feeding station, transfer mechanism associated with the feed storage mechanism capable of selectively conveying feed material to the feed trough member, the feed control portion being operatively connected to the transfer mechanism, the feed control portion including animal identifying mechanism, the animal identifying mechanism including a light source, a plurality of spaced phototransistors adjacent to the light source but normally shielded therefrom, the light source and the phototransistors being disposed below and adjacent to the feed trough member and arranged with their active surfaces in a generally vertical plane, electrical circuitry connecting the phototransistors with deciphering, feed schedule memory and

Abstract: Automatic animal feeding apparatus including a feeding portion, a feed supplying portion, and a feed control portion; the feeding portion including a plurality of feeding stations, the feed control portion including a light source and a plurality of spaced sensing mechanisms associated therewith at each of the feeding stations, the sensing mechanism being capable of being activated by light supplied from the light source, mechanism associated with an animal for diverting light from the light source with respect to the sensing mechanism in a predetermined pattern, the sensing mechanism being capable of transmitting signals to deciphering mechanism located closely adjacent to the sensing mechanism at each feeding station, at least two of the sensing mechanisms detecting proper orientation of the animal associated mechanism with the sensing mechanism, an odd number of the sensing mechanisms in addition to the orientation detecting sensing mechanism detecting an identification pattern of a particular animal, the