Abstract: The present invention provides a rubber teat element which, on account of the radial expandability of the head part, is able to adapt to different teat geometries, in particular in the case where an animal has small, thin and short teats. A teat cup and a milking cluster with a corresponding rubber teat element are also provided.

Abstract: A safety valve includes an inlet, an outlet, two shut-off valves arranged behind one another, and a discharge valve with a discharge outlet. The two shut-off valves and the discharge valve are connected by an inlet and outlet respectively. The safety valve has a housing main body, relative to which a piston is guided movably, and which has a housing cover guided movably on a side lying opposite the housing main body. The inlet is arranged on the piston, the outlet is arranged on the housing cover, each of which merges into a bore closeable by one sealing surface arranged on the piston and the housing cover respectively. The housing cover and the housing main body form a cavity, in which the bores end. A circumferential gap formed when the housing cover is lifted off produces the discharge outlet.

Abstract: A safety valve arrangement and method, having an upstream block valve, a downstream block valve, and a pressure monitored galley between the upstream valve and the downstream valve.

Abstract: A space divider of a milking parlor arrangement for at least one milking parlor for milking milk-producing animals, wherein the space divider is arranged approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis of the animal to be milked, has an arm device having a milking cluster, which can be adjusted from a parking position to a working position and back. The arm device is arranged with the milking cluster in the parking position in the space divider and can be adjusted into the working position laterally to the animal to be milked between the front and rear legs thereof in fully automatic operation or semiautomatic operation. The space divider is designed in such a way that no additional space is required between adjacent animals, so that many animals can be milked in a milking parlor arrangement while the smallest possible amount of space is required.

Abstract: A milk measuring cell having an inlet channel and an outlet, a cavity, a barrier which protrudes from a bottom of the cavity and divides the cavity into a measurement trough (13) on the side of the inlet channel and an outlet channel on the side of the outlet, wherein a peak of the barrier is positioned below an elevation of the inlet channel.

Abstract: A device suitable for attachment to a milking platform at a “milking position” has a strippings viewing area and a light source, which is operable to illuminate in a suitable manner the strippings viewing area to enhance the visibility to an operator of any mastitis symptoms in use and/or to illuminate the udder to facilitate inspection or treatment. The light source may also be operable to give continuous or intermittent colour signals to the operator and the device might also include an alpha-numeric area. The device might form part of a leg separator and/or sprayer and/or milk hose support. A milking platform with such a device is also claimed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for milking a milk-producing animal, in particular a cow, that set a target milk quantity which is lower than a possible expected milk quantity, carry out the milking process, determine the milked quantity and compares the milked quantity with the target milk quantity, and terminate milking when the milked quantity corresponds substantially to the target milk quantity.

Abstract: A teat dip fluid manifold and methods for distributing teat dip fluids, and including redundant valve sets and pressure monitoring between valve pairs to determine valve condition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a milk separation device of a milking system for milking, in particular automated milking, of milk-producing animals. The milk separation device comprises a body, which has an inlet connection and an outlet connection, and a cover, which has a connection to a vacuum line. The body has an inwardly protruding balcony segment on an inner periphery, wherein the balcony segment forms a ramp helically in the peripheral direction so as to rise at a pitch angle with respect to the gravitational force of the earth.

Abstract: A space divider of a milking parlor arrangement for at least one milking parlor for milking milk-producing animals, wherein the space divider is arranged approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis of the animal to be milked, has an arm device having a milking cluster, which can be adjusted from a parking position to a working position and back. The arm device is arranged with the milking cluster in the parking position in the space divider and can be adjusted into the working position laterally to the animal to be milked between the front and rear legs thereof. The space divider may include a replaceable service unit.

Abstract: An optical milk measuring arrangement operative during a milking operation, and including an optical measuring device for measuring optical properties of milk in a measuring region, in which at least part of the milk fed to the measuring arrangement collects. The measuring arrangement includes a main channel and a measuring channel, and these channels are in fluid communication with one another in a region of a common inlet and a common outlet, and the measuring channel has a lower flow velocity than a flow velocity in the main channel.

Abstract: A safety valve arrangement and method, having an upstream block valve, a downstream block valve, and a pressure monitored galley between the upstream valve and the downstream valve.

Abstract: A method is proposed for ascertaining the quality and/or the composition of milk, in particular during a milking operation, in which the fill level of the milk in a chamber is determined. After the fill level of the milk in the chamber has been determined, the milk is irradiated using at least one radiation of a predefined wavelength. The intensity of the reflected radiation is measured. The fill level and the intensity of the reflected radiation represent a value pair. Characteristic values are stored in a memory. A characteristic value is assigned to the ascertained value pair. A statement about the quality and/or the composition of the milk can be made from the characteristic value thus ascertained.

Abstract: A cleaning unit for cleaning at least one head section of a teat cup, the cleaning unit having a chamber that has a substantially circular cross-section, is delimited by a wall, and has an opening delimited by a sealing element that is flexible around a circumference of the chamber.

Abstract: A safety valve for a cleaning device for a milking installation for milking milk-providing animals, including a first block valve with an input, a second block valve with an output, a bleed valve with a bleed output, a piston rod and a drive unit, wherein the safety valve is movable from a blocking position, in which the first block valve and the second block valve are closed in order to block the input and the output and in which the bleed valve is opened in order to connect the bleed output to a connection, into a pass-through position, in which the first block valve and the second block valve are opened in order to connect the input to the output via the connection and in which the bleed valve is closed in order to block the bleed output, and back. The first block valve, the second block valve and the bleed valve of the safety valve are designed as seat valves with a common piston plate.

Abstract: A milking cluster used for milking a dairy animal in a milking parlor, the milking cluster including a teat cup unit, a teat cup, a drive device, a hose arrangement joined to the teat cup, a hose guide engaging the hose arrangement, and the hose guide includes a plurality of hose-engaging rollers.

Abstract: A quick-coupling device for a milking module of a milking system for milking dairy animals that forms a releasable and re-establishable connection between the milking module and a milk pipe and includes a valve mechanism for opening and closing a feeding port and a discharge port using a number of articulated clamps.

Abstract: A method and a device for determining parameters of a rinsing process for a milking system, wherein a rinsing fluid circulates in a circuit to be rinsed in the rinsing process by filling a storage container with a fluid up to a predefined filling level; circulating the fluid from the storage container, via the circuit to be rinsed and back into the storage container; refilling the storage container during the circulation of the fluid up to the predefined filling level, determining a necessary fluid volume; and determining parameters of a subsequent rinsing process based on the determined fluid volume.