Abstract: A method and system for flushing an area of a robotic harvest dairy barn is presented. The method is based upon defining areas within the dairy barn that, by virtue of use of robots for “cow-initiated” milking will be maintained in a hygienically clean and dry condition with frequent flushings of short duration. The four areas of the barn felt to benefit from this frequent flushing including any of: an area immediately surrounding a robot; a holding area for staging cows for milking at the robot; a robot control room; and a milk collection room. In the relevant areas the flooring deck is configured to slope at its upper surface to define a drain area, the drain area including at least one grated drain positioned to collect any liquid deposited on the upper surface of the provided flooring deck. A collecting pipe network conducts liquid collected to a baffled tank.

Abstract: A method and system for flushing an area of a robotic harvest dairy barn is presented. The method is based upon defining areas within the dairy barn that, by virtue of use of robots for “cow-initiated” milking will be maintained in a hygienically clean and dry condition with frequent flushings of short duration. The four areas of the barn felt to benefit from this frequent flushing including any of: an area immediately surrounding a robot; a holding area for staging cows for milking at the robot; a robot control room; and a milk collection room. In the relevant areas the flooring deck is configured to slope at its upper surface to define a drain area, the drain area including at least one grated drain positioned to collect any liquid deposited on the upper surface of the provided flooring deck. A collecting pipe network conducts liquid collected to a baffled tank.

Abstract: A rotary composter having a fuselage member where a drive system is configured to rotate the fuselage member where the end caps are substantially stationary and do not rotate and the fuselage member has a plurality of longitudinally extending slats contained therein.

Abstract: The present invention may be embodied as a processing system for processing raw slurry material. The processing system comprises a barrel member, at least one pre-processing member, and a plurality of separator members. The at least one pre-processing member and the plurality of separator members are supported by the barrel member, and the plurality of separator members define at least one separator gap. As the barrel member rotates about the processing axis A, the at least one pre-processing member transports at least a portion of the raw slurry material from the feed portion to the separator portion through the pre-processing portion. The plurality of separator members transport at least a portion of the raw slurry material from the pre-processing portion to the outlet opening through the separator portion.

Abstract: A pre-separator for a screw press separator wherein the pre-separator increases the concentration of solid material in a water solid material mixture. The pre-separator is configured to have a frustoconical screen surface where a plurality of wiper blades engage the interior portion of the surface to provide de-watering action, and the plurality of blades are configured to reposition with respect to the center axis of the frustoconical surface to allow for engagement between the interior surface of the frustoconical screen, and the wiper blades.

Abstract: The present invention may be embodied as a processing system for processing raw slurry material. The processing system comprises a barrel member, at least one pre-processing member, and a plurality of separator members. The at least one pre-processing member and the plurality of separator members are supported by the barrel member, and the plurality of separator members define at least one separator gap. As the barrel member rotates about the processing axis A, the at least one pre-processing member transports at least a portion of the raw slurry material from the feed portion to the separator portion through the pre-processing portion. The plurality of separator members transport at least a portion of the raw slurry material from the pre-processing portion to the outlet opening through the separator portion.

Abstract: A rotary composter having a fuselage member where a drive system is configured to rotate the fuselage member where the end caps are substantially stationary and do not rotate and the fuselage member has a plurality of longitudinally extending slats contained therein.

Abstract: Systems and methods for separating manure into a solid fraction and a liquid fraction, and optionally further separating the liquid fraction to capture a sand-rich second solid fraction and a second liquid fraction. Some separators have an adjustable inclination, forcing the manure passage to be slightly up hill, with an overflow box capturing and re-feeding excess manure inflow. One system includes an internally fed rotary screen separator having a perforated outer tube, the perforations being holes less than about 3/16 inch diameter. The outer tube can include spiral inner flights which may be interrupted near the discharge end to allow free fluid to flow back into the separator. The manure can be fed into an inlet conduit having an adjustable angle discharge slot. Some outer tubes have non-perforated end regions serving as the foundation for drive tracks. The solid fraction discharge can be further dewatered in a roller press.

Abstract: A valve assembly adapted to be used in a milking operation where the valve assembly comprises an actuator portion and a valve portion where the valve portion has a milking position and a cleaning position where when in a milking position a transverse slot located between a cleaning fluid passage and a first milking passage provides a fluid short circuit so in the event of a leak the cleaning fluid passage and the first milking passage will not communicate with one another.

Abstract: A cow indexing and positioning system comprising a first and second actuating systems where the first actuating system repositions a cow brisket bar assembly in the horizontal plane to index the cows located in a stall to be milked. When the cows are finished being milked the first actuating system then disengages from the cows' briskets and the second actuating system vertically raises the cow brisket bar assembly to allow the cows to pass thereunder.

Abstract: A method apparatus for teat dipping for sanitizing the udder of a cow either before or after milking. The apparatus has an extension arm with a dispersion portion so that when a cow is in a cleaning location the extension arm will extend underneath a cow's udder and dispersed cleaning fluid onto the cow's udder. A sensing system is used that detects the rotation of the parlor to determine if a cow is at a cleaning location. Further, the sensing system detects whether a cow is present in a stall of the rotary milking parlor.

Abstract: A cow indexing and positioning system comprising a first and second actuating systems where the first actuating system repositions a cow brisket bar assembly in the horizontal plane to index the cows located in a stall to be milked. When the cows are finished being milked the first actuating system then disengages from the cows' briskets and the second actuating system vertically raises the cow brisket bar assembly to allow the cows to pass thereunder.

Abstract: A rotary milking apparatus having a rotating support structure having a plurality of milking stations, each having a milking unit and a wash unit. Each wash unit has a washing connecting device positioned to travel in a circumferential path of travel through a washing location There is a wash control valve for each wash unit having a first location to cause milk to be deliverd from the milking unit to a collecting location, and a second position to enable wash liquid to be delivered to the milking unit. There is a single wash liquid supply section having a nozzle which travels in an arcuate back and forth pass to travel to connect to the connecting device of each wash unit. The wash liquid supply section delivers wash liquid individually to each wash unit as it passes through the wash location.

Abstract: A method apparatus for teat dipping for sanitizing the udder of a cow either before or after milking. The apparatus has an extension arm with a dispersion portion so that when a cow is in a cleaning location the extension arm will extend underneath a cow's udder and dispersed cleaning fluid onto the cow's udder. A sensing system is used that detects the rotation of the parlor to determine if a cow is at a cleaning location. Further, the sensing system detects whether a cow is present in a stall of the rotary milking parlor.