Abstract: A milking system for milking dairy animals includes a milking device, a milk line for transporting milk; a cleaning device for cleaning the milk line with a cleaning liquid; a first outlet for discharging the milk to a milk tank; a second outlet for discharging the cleaning liquid; a valve mechanism for controllably connecting the milk line to one of the first outlet and the second outlet; and a control unit for controlling the valve mechanism. The valve mechanism includes a first and a second valve, and a displacement device for displacing the first or the second valve housing between a cleaning position and a milking position.

Abstract: A milking device for milking a dairy animal is provided with milking mechanism, a control system, a milk pipeline for transporting the milk from the milking mechanism to a milk tank, a milk filter and a cleaning device. The cleaning device includes at least one cleaning fluid holder, a heating device for heating cleaning fluid in the cleaning fluid holder, an additive storage holder for additive, an additive adding device for controlled addition of the additive to cleaning fluid, and a valve system for regulating flows of cleaning fluid and additive through the milking device. The cleaning device is configured for carrying out a cleaning cycle of the milking device with a prerinse with cold or tepid water, a hot rinse with heated water and an acidic or basic additive, a postrinse, and at least between the hot rinse and the postrinse, a counterflow cleaning step by passing cleaning fluid in counterflow through the milk filter.

Abstract: A milking device has milking means, a controller, a milk line for transporting the milk from the milking means to a milk tank, a milk filter for filtering the milk passing through the milk line, and a cleaning device for cleaning the milk filter with cleaning fluid. The milk filter comprises a housing which surrounds a filter volume and has a milk inlet and a milk outlet, and a circumferential filter body. The filter body comprises filter holes and divides the filter volume into an inner filter volume and an outer filter volume. The milk filter is configured to be flushed during use. The cleaning device is configured to clean the milk filter. The filter holes are grouped into a first group and a second group. The diameter of the holes in the first group is greater than that of the second group.

Abstract: A milking system includes two or more milking devices for extracting a milking from a dairy animal; a central utility system connected with each milking device in the milking system, and a cleaning unit for cleaning the milking devices and milk-carrying parts of the central utility system. The cleaning unit includes a fluid transporting line for transport of cleaning fluid where each of the milking devices is in fluid connection with the fluid transport line, a buffer unit for receiving and temporarily storing extracted milk where the buffer unit is in fluid connection with each of the milking devices through a milk line, and a control unit for controlling the central utility unit. The cleaning unit cleans each milking device and milk line during a cleaning cycle, and at least one of the milking devices is available for extracting milk from a dairy animal during the cleaning cycle.

Abstract: A milking device is provided with milking means, a control unit, a milk line for transporting the milk from the milking means to a milk tank, a milk filter for filtering the milk passing through the milk line, and a cleaning device for the milk filter with cleaning liquid. The milk filter includes a housing which surrounds a filter volume and has a milk inlet and a milk outlet, and a filter component in the filter volume. The filter component includes a circumferential plate part with filter openings, and divides the filter volume into a central inner filter volume and an outer filter volume surrounding the latter. The filter component includes wire with a unilaterally tapering cross-sectional profile and a frame. The wire is provided in a spiral shape with a plurality of windings or in a series of individual parallel rings or rods.

Abstract: An automatically cleanable milk filter includes a cylindrical housing with an outer wall, a first end with a first liquid connection, and above a second end with a second liquid connection. A concentric cylindrical filter part and a cylindrical core placed concentrically within the filter part are accommodated in the housing. The filter part includes wire having a tapered cross-sectional profile in a spiral shape or as a series of parallel rings or rods, and a frame for keeping them spaced apart, thereby forming a plurality of filter openings. The filter part divides the filter volume into a first volume part which is directly connected to the first liquid connection, and a second volume part which is directly connected to the second liquid connection. The second volume part includes a cylindrical part, as well as a top part which narrows at a transition to the second liquid connection.

Abstract: A milking system for milking a dairy animal includes a milking cup and a measuring chamber which is in flow communication with the milking cup for the obtained milk where the chamber has a sensor system for measuring at least one property of the milk. The sensor system includes at least three optical sensor devices, each configured to measure values of a property of the milk, and a sensor control unit for actuating the sensor system and for processing the measured values. The sensor control unit is configured to repeatedly select one of the sensor devices. Two of the optical sensor devices are identical, and the sensor system is configured to in each case measure the local value of the property of the milk and to determine a value of the at least one property of the milk in the measuring chamber on the basis of the values measured locally.

Abstract: A milking system for milking dairy animals includes a milking device, a milk line for transporting milk; a cleaning device for cleaning the milk line with a cleaning liquid; a first outlet for discharging the milk to a milk tank; a second outlet for discharging the cleaning liquid; a valve mechanism for controllably connecting the milk line to one of the first outlet and the second outlet; and a control unit for controlling the valve mechanism. The valve mechanism includes a first and a second valve, and a displacement device for displacing the first or the second valve housing between a cleaning position and a milking position.

Abstract: A milking device for milking a dairy animal is provided with milking mechanism, a control system, a milk pipeline for transporting the milk from the milking mechanism to a milk tank, a milk filter and a cleaning device. The cleaning device includes at least one cleaning fluid holder, a heating device for heating cleaning fluid in the cleaning fluid holder, an additive storage holder for additive, an additive adding device for controlled addition of the additive to cleaning fluid, and a valve system for regulating flows of cleaning fluid and additive through the milking device. The cleaning device is configured for carrying out a cleaning cycle of the milking device with a prerinse with cold or tepid water, a hot rinse with heated water and an acidic or basic additive, a postrinse, and at least between the hot rinse and the postrinse, a counterflow cleaning step by passing cleaning fluid in counterflow through the milk filter.

Abstract: A milking system for milking a dairy animal includes a milking cup for obtaining milk, a measuring chamber which is in flow communication with the milking cup for at least temporarily containing the obtained milk, and having a sensor device for measuring at least one property of the milk. The sensor device comprises at least three mutually separate electrodes for measuring values of a first milk property using an electrical and/or electromagnetic variable, and a sensor control unit for actuating the sensor device and for processing the measured values. The sensor control unit is configured to repeatedly select a pair of the electrodes in a targeted manner, the pair comprising a first electrode and a second electrode which differs from the first electrode. The sensor device is configured to measure the value of the variable between the electrodes, and to determine the value of the at least one milk property.

Abstract: A milking system for milking a dairy animal includes a milking cup having a first milk outflow opening, a measuring chamber having a milk inlet which is in flow communication with the first milk outflow opening, with a second milk outflow opening to a milk hose, and with a vacuum connection, and a level sensor for measuring a milk level in the measuring chamber. The milking system further includes a controllable valve having an adjustable passage opening, which is provided in or downstream of the second milk outflow opening, and a control unit which is operatively connected to the level sensor and the valve, and which control unit is configured to adjust the passage opening of the valve on the basis of the measured milk level.

Abstract: A milking system for milking of a milk animal, including a milking cup for obtaining the milk, the milking cup having a teat space with a first milk outflow opening, and a measuring chamber directly and rigidly connected to the milking cup for at least temporarily containing the obtained milk. The measuring chamber is provided with a milk inflow opening which is in flow communication with the first milk outflow opening, a second milk outflow opening, a vacuum outlet, and a sensor device for measuring a property of the milk in the measuring chamber. The sensor device includes an optical sensor device having a plurality of optical sensor elements, at least one light source, and a control unit which is configured to process sensor signals into values of at least two parameters of the milk in the measuring chamber.

Abstract: A milking device for milking a dairy animal comprises a teat cup with a cup wall and a teat liner and a pulsation space situated in between, to which pulsation space a pulsation device is connected which is configured to apply a pressure that varies in pulsations to the pulsation space in order to open and close the teat liner, and which pulsation device comprises a supply line which is controllable by a first operable valve, in particular closable, for supplying a first pressure, a supply line which is controllable by a second operable valve, in particular closable, for supplying a second pressure, which is a lower pressure than the first pressure, and a control unit which is configured to generate control signals for operating the first valve and the second valve, wherein the first valve, and preferably also the second valve, is a controllable valve having a passage which is adjustable by means of the control signals, wherein the passage of the first valve, and preferably of the second valve, respectively,

Abstract: A milking device for milking a dairy animal includes a teat cup with a cup wall and a teat liner and a pulsation space situated in between, the pulsation space being connected to a pulsation device that is configured to apply a pressure that varies in pulsations to the pulsation space in order to open and close the teat liner. The pulsation device includes a supply line controllable by a first operable valve for supplying a first pressure, a supply line controllable by a second operable valve for supplying a second pressure lower than the first pressure, and a control unit configured to generate control signals for operating the first and second valves. At least the first valve is a controllable valve having a passage that is adjustable during at least one pulsation phase by the control unit.

Abstract: A milking robot for automated milking of milking animals, comprising a cylinder supporting movement of at least one movable component. The cylinder has a wall with a ventilation opening and a cylinder rod which can move in and out of the cylinder. The cylinder wall surrounds at least one variable volume part for movement of the cylinder rod. The opening configures the cylinder to remain in virtual pressure equilibrium with an environment. A gas capture device is connected which has a variable volume and which together with the variable volume part, forms an air-tight gas volume. Thus the variable volume part is kept at almost ambient pressure, so that no unnecessary counter-pressure occurs in the cylinder, during extension and retraction of the cylinder rod. Also less to no exchange of gas and dirt with the environment can take place for longer life and better reliability of the cylinder.

Abstract: A milking robot for the fully automatic milking of dairy animals includes at least one moving component and a cylinder configured to support a movement of the component. The cylinder has a cylinder wall having an aeration opening, as well as a cylinder rod slidable into and out of the cylinder. The cylinder wall surrounds at least one variable volume part, which volume part is free from pressure fluid connections for displacement of the cylinder rod. The cylinder is configured to remain, via the opening, substantially in pressure equilibrium with an environment of the cylinder. To the cylinder wall around the aeration opening is connected a gas collecting device which has a changeable volume and which, together with the variable volume part, forms an airtight gas volume. In addition, the gas collecting device has a minimum volume greater than zero.

Abstract: A milking system for milking a dairy animal includes a milking cup having a first milk outflow opening, a measuring chamber having a milk inlet which is in flow communication with the first milk outflow opening, with a second milk outflow opening to a milk hose, and with a vacuum connection, and a level sensor for measuring a milk level in the measuring chamber. The milking system further includes a controllable valve having an adjustable passage opening, which is provided in or downstream of the second milk outflow opening, and a control unit which is operatively connected to the level sensor and the valve, and which control unit is configured to adjust the passage opening of the valve on the basis of the measured milk level.

Abstract: A milking system for milking of a milk animal, including a milking cup for obtaining the milk, the milking cup having a teat space with a first milk outflow opening, and a measuring chamber directly and rigidly connected to the milking cup for at least temporarily containing the obtained milk. The measuring chamber is provided with a milk inflow opening which is in flow communication with the first milk outflow opening, a second milk outflow opening, a vacuum outlet, and a sensor device for measuring a property of the milk in the measuring chamber. The sensor device includes an optical sensor device having a plurality of optical sensor elements, at least one light source, and a control unit which is configured to process sensor signals into values of at least two parameters of the milk in the measuring chamber.

Abstract: A milking system for milking a dairy animal includes a milking cup and a measuring chamber which is in flow communication with the milking cup for the obtained milk where the chamber has a sensor system for measuring at least one property of the milk. The sensor system includes at least three optical sensor devices, each configured to measure values of a property of the milk, and a sensor control unit for actuating the sensor system and for processing the measured values. The sensor control unit is configured to repeatedly select one of the sensor devices. Two of the optical sensor devices are identical, and the sensor system is configured to in each case measure the local value of the property of the milk and to determine a value of the at least one property of the milk in the measuring chamber on the basis of the values measured locally.

Abstract: A milking system for milking a dairy animal includes a milking cup for obtaining milk, a measuring chamber which is in flow communication with the milking cup for at least temporarily containing the obtained milk, and having a sensor device for measuring at least one property of the milk. The sensor device comprises at least three mutually separate electrodes for measuring values of a first milk property using an electrical and/or electromagnetic variable, and a sensor control unit for actuating the sensor device and for processing the measured values. The sensor control unit is configured to repeatedly select a pair of the electrodes in a targeted manner, the pair comprising a first electrode and a second electrode which differs from the first electrode. The sensor device is configured to measure the value of the variable between the electrodes, and to determine the value of the at least one milk property.