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 method and arrangement for providing a representative milk sample from one animal, includes milk extracting parts, a receiver, a milk transferring part to transfer the milk from the receiver to a sampling unit, milk stirring parts adapted to stir the milk before transferring a sample part of the milk to the sample unit, a milk yield determining part, a stirring time determining part, the arrangement adapted to terminate the stirring of the milk when the time period ends so that a satisfactorily stirring can be accomplished without subjecting the milk to excessive stirring.

Abstract: An arrangement for and method of providing a representative sample of milk from one animal, after stirring the milk, includes a receiver, milk extracting parts, a pump transferring milk from the receiver to a sample unit, a circulation line extending from the receiver via the pump and back to the receiver, for stirring the milk in the receiver. The arrangement stirs the extracted milk without injecting air into the milk, before a sample part of the milk is transferred from the receiver to the milk-sampling unit, thereby ensuring that the sampled part is representative of the milk from one animal.

Abstract: A cleaning method in a milking system (9) includes a plurality of teat cups (19), each of which is connected to a respective milk line. During milking of the teats of an animal, the plurality of teat cups (19) are attached to the teats of the animal, and vacuum is supplied to the respective milk lines in order to draw milk from the teats of the milking animal. The cleaning includes removing milk or other residues present at each of the plurality of teat cups by flushing (37) each of the plurality of teat cups with a cleaning fluid supplied via a supply line (36, 34c), evacuating cleaning fluid from each of the plurality of teat cups or from the supply line, and disinfecting at least one of the plurality of teat cups by exposing (60) the at least one of the plurality of teat cups to steam.

Abstract: A method for counting somatic cells or fat droplets in milk on-line during milking by an automated or semi-automated milking system comprising the steps of: flowing milk as milked by the milking system through a measuring chamber (59); illuminating milk that flows through the measuring chamber; and recording multiple two-dimensional digital images of illuminated milk that flows through the measuring chamber, wherein the images are recorded through a lens system (49) to preferably obtain a spatial resolution better than about 5 microns in the images. Finally, a somatic cell or fat droplet count score of the milk is determined from the images by means of digital image processing, preferably including the use of neural networks.

Abstract: A milking plant includes a milking member to be attached to a teat of an animal to be milked during a milking operation. A milk container is connected to the milking member and adapted to collect the milk extracted during the milking operation. A milk pump, being a part of a milk transport conduit, defines a suction side and a pressure side. A milk tank is connected to the milk container via the milk transport conduit and adapted to collect the milk from the milk container. A milk sample discharge device is connected to the milk transport conduit at the pressure side. The milk pump is adapted to transport during a milk transport operation the milk extracted during the milking operation from the milk container in a major flow to the milk tank and in a minor flow via the milk discharge device.

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: The invention refers to a milking device and a method of handling a milking device. The milking device includes a milk-transporting member (1) having at least one teatcup (2) and arranged to transport milk from a teat of an animal to a milk-collecting member (4) during a milking state. A low pressure is connected to the milk-transporting member (1) for sucking the milk from the teat to the milk collecting member. A gas conduit (11) permits the introduction of a gas into the milk-transporting member. The gas conduit has a first end (12), which is a gas inlet member (15). The gas conduit has a second end connectable to a relatively low pressure for permitting a flow of a cleaning fluid from the milk-transporting member through the gas conduit during a cleaning state.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a cleaning method in a milking system (9) comprising a plurality of teat cups (19), each of which is connected to a respective milk line, wherein, during milking of the teats of a milking-animal, the plurality of teat cups (19) are attached to the teats of the animal, and vacuum is supplied to the respective milk lines in order to draw milk from the teats of the milking animal. The cleaning comprises the steps of removing milk or other residues present at each of said plurality of teat cups by means of flushing (37) each of said plurality of teat cups with a cleaning fluid supplied via a supply line (36, 34c); evacuating cleaning fluid from each of said plurality of teat cups or from the supply line, and disinfecting at least one of said plurality of teat cups by means of exposing (60) said at lest one of said plurality of teat cups to steam.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a cleaning method in a milking system (9) comprising a plurality of teat cups (19), each of which is connected to a respective milk line, wherein, during milking of the teats of a milking animal, the plurality of teat cups (19) are attached to the teats of the animal, and vacuum is supplied to the respective milk lines in order to draw milk from the teats of the milking animal. The cleaning comprises the steps of removing milk or other residues present at each of the plurality of teat cups by of flushing (37) each of said plurality of teat cups with a cleaning fluid supplied via a supply line (36, 34c); evacuating cleaning fluid from each of the plurality of teat cups or from the supply line; and disinfecting at least one of the plurality of teat cups by of exposing (60) the at lest one of the plurality of teat cups to steam.

Abstract: A method of disinfecting or sterilizing at least a portion of any of a resting, a milking, or a feeding station (3, 24, 26) provided with an animal identification device (18) and located in an area (1), in which milking animals are allowed to move, is provided. Each of the animals visiting the resting, the milking, or the feeding station is identified and is admitted to enter the station depending on the identification. The inventive method comprises the steps of retrieving information regarding the health of each of the animals entering the station; and automatically disinfecting or sterilizing the portion of the station only if the information retrieved reveals that an animal entering the station has an infection that is capable of being transmitted to other animals. The disinfection or the sterilization is performed after that said infectious milking animal has left the station.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a cleaning method in a milking system (9) comprising a plurality of teat cups (19), each of which is connected to a respective milk line, wherein, during milking of the teats of a milking animal, the plurality of teat cups (19) are attached to the teats of the animal, and vacuum is supplied to the respective milk lines in order to draw milk from the teats of the milking animal. The cleaning comprises the steps of removing milk or other residues present at each of said plurality of teat cups by means of flushing (37) each of said plurality of teat cups with a cleaning fluid supplied via a supply line (36, 34c); evacuating cleaning fluid from each of said plurality of teat cups or from the supply line; and disinfecting at least one of said plurality of teat cups by means of exposing (60) said at lest one of said plurality of teat cups to steam.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a cleaning method in a milking system (9) comprising a plurality of teat cups (19), each of which is connected to a respective milk line, wherein, during milking of the teats of a milking animal, the plurality of teat cups (19) are attached to the teats of the animal, and vacuum is supplied to the respective milk lines in order to draw milk from the teats of the milking animal. The cleaning comprises the steps of removing milk or other residues present at each of said plurality of teat cups by means of flushing (37) each of said plurality of teat cups with a cleaning fluid supplied via a supply line (36, 34c); evacuating cleaning fluid from each of said plurality of teat cups or from the supply line; and disinfecting at least one of said plurality of teat cups by means of exposing (60) said at lest one of said plurality of teat cups to steam.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device and a method for sampling of milk. The device includes a collecting member (15, 15?) arranged to receive milk samples from a milk line (1), which is arranged to transport milk from one animal (3) at a time, and a passage (8a, 12?, 13) arranged to allow a milk flow from the milk line (1) to the collecting member (15, 15?). The device comprises flow means (11, 19) arranged to provide a milk flow, from the animal (3), through at least a part of the passage (8a, 12?, 13) at least a time period before a milk sample is to be taken in order to rinse at least the part of the passage (8a, 12?, 13) from milk residues from a previously milked animal.

Abstract: The present invention refers to an arrangement and a method for milking of animals. The arrangement includes a number of milking stations (1), a central milk-receiving unit (30–32), and a transport conduit (15). Each milking station (1) includes a set of teatcups to be attached to the animal to be milked, a local milk-collecting unit, a milk discharge conduit (12) and a feeding member. The transport conduit (15) connects each milk discharge conduit to the central milk-receiving unit for the transport of milk from each milking station to the central receiving unit. The feeding member of each milking station is arranged to feed the milk from the milk-collecting unit to the transport conduit (15) via the milk discharge conduit (12). The transport conduit (15) is arranged to permit said transport of milk by means of the gravity force.

Abstract: The present invention provides an arrangement for filtering milk in a milking system, wherein said arrangement comprises a movable filter magazine provided with at least three filter devices (8), each of which comprises a tube housing a disposable filter and a support structure for supporting the disposable filter, and each of which is connectable to said milking system for filtering milk therein; and an actuating device for connecting each of said at least three filter devices, one at a time, to said milking system.

Abstract: The invention refers to an arrangement and a method for milking of animals. The arrangement includes a number of milking stations (1). Each milking station includes a set of teatcups to be attached to the animal to be milked, a local milk-collecting unit, a local milk discharge conduit (10) and a local feeding member. At least a first main milk conduit (31) is arranged to connect each local milk discharge conduit (10) to a central milk-receiving unit (30) for the transport of milk from each milking station (1) to the central milk-receiving unit. Each local feeding member is arranged to feed the milk by pressure from the local milk-collecting unit to the central milk-connecting unit via the local milk discharge conduit (10) and the first main milk conduit.

Abstract: A method for counting somatic cells or fat droplets in milk on-line during milking by an automated or semi-automated milking system comprising the steps of: flowing milk as milked by the milking system through a measuring chamber (59); illuminating milk that flows through the measuring chamber; and recording multiple two-dimensional digital images of illuminated milk that flows through the measuring chamber, wherein the images are recorded through a lens system (49) to preferably obtain a spatial resolution better than about 5 microns in the images. Finally, a somatic cell or fat droplet count score of the milk is determined from the images by means of digital image processing, preferably including the use of neural networks.

Abstract: The invention refers to a milking device and a method of handling a milking device. The milking device includes a milk-transporting member (1) having at least one teatcup (2) and arranged to transport milk from a teat of an animal to a milk-collecting member (4) during a milking state. A low pressure is connected to the milk-transporting member (1) for sucking the milk from the teat to the milk collecting member. A gas conduit (11) permits the introduction of a gas into the milk-transporting member. The gas conduit has a first end (12), which is a gas inlet member (15). The gas conduit has a second end connectable to a relatively low pressure for permitting a flow of a cleaning fluid from the milk-transporting member through the gas conduit during a cleaning state.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a method of disinfecting or sterilizing at least a portion of any of a resting, a milking, or a feeding station (3, 24, 26) provided with an animal identification device (18) and located in an area (1), in which milking animals are allowed to move. Each of the animals visiting the resting, the milking, or the feeding station is identified and is admitted to enter the station depending on the identification. The inventive method comprises the steps of retrieving information regarding the health of each of the animals entering the station; and automatically disinfecting or sterilizing the portion of the station only if the information retrieved reveals that an animal entering the station has an infection that is capable of being transmitted to other animals. The disinfection or the sterilization is performed after that said infectious milking animal has left the station.