Abstract: Method in the use of a construction-time elevator, in which method the supporting platform that supports the elevator car of the elevator is lifted higher in the elevator hoistway with a hoisting device supported on a support structure. In the method the supporting platform is suspended from the support structure via at least one hoisting device and rope comprised in the hoisting device and the supporting platform is lifted upwards in the elevator hoistway with a lifting ratio of 1:x, where x is greater than 1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to milking apparatus. The milking apparatus comprises sensor apparatus (16) that is operative, in use of the milking apparatus, to determine a location in a lateral direction with respect to an animal of at least one anatomical feature of the animal, the at least one anatomical feature being other than an udder of the animal. The sensor apparatus comprises image capture apparatus (16) that is operative to acquire at least one image of at least part of the animal. The milking apparatus also comprises a robot arm (14) located, in use of the milking apparatus, either behind or in front of the animal, the robot arm (14) being operative to move towards the udder in dependence upon the determined location of the anatomical feature.

Abstract: In a method in the use of a construction-time elevator, at least two lifts are performed. In each of the lifts, the supporting platform is lifted higher in the elevator hoistway with the hoisting device supported by the support structure so as to extend the operating range of the elevator car to reach higher in the elevator hoistway. A second support structure and a second hoisting device, which are above the support structure, are used between the lifts of the supporting platform, for moving the working platform in the elevator hoistway under construction between the second support structure and the support structure, and for lifting the support structure upwards in the elevator hoistway.

Abstract: An elevator arrangement, comprising at least one elevator shaft, a working platform, elevator car or equivalent arranged to move in the elevator shaft, a power source for moving the said working platform or equivalent e.g. by means of ropes, chains, belts or equivalent, characterized in that the vertical range of movement of the said working platform or equivalent in the elevator shaft has been temporarily delimited in such manner that its movement can only take place in a section of the elevator shaft, by means of a structure (1), preferably a beam, which is mounted in the elevator shaft in the path of the said working platform, elevator car or equivalent, said structure (1) being fitted in the elevator shaft below the said working platform, elevator car or equivalent at a distance from the bottom of the elevator shaft.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for installing an elevator with-out machine room during the construction of a building, said elevator comprising at least a hoisting machine (4) provided with a traction sheave (30) and an elevator car (3) suspended by a set of hoisting ropes (28) and fitted to move along guide rails (2), and in which method at least a temporary machine room (6) movable in the elevator shaft (1) is utilized. At the final stage of installation, the machine room (6) of the elevator provided with a temporary machine room (6) is dismounted and the elevator is converted into an elevator without machine room by placing the hoisting machine (4) that was used in the temporary machine room (6), together with the hoisting ropes (28) on the traction sheave (30), into its final position in the elevator shaft (1).

Abstract: A teat locating sensor for use in farming equipment such as robotic milking machines and teat disinfection units. One or more cameras capture an image of the udder. The captured image is processed by applying an edge detector to provide an edge image. A Hough transform is applied for detecting edges using semi-circles and near vertical forms. A feature detector then matches these to provide teat ends and teat sides and thus produces a teat location map. Colour or monochrome cameras can be used and a 2D or 3D map can be generated. Filtering is described to improve the accuracy if required.

Abstract: The invention relates to a procedure and an apparatus intended to be used in elevator installation to install the overspeed governor (28) for the time it takes to install the elevator. According to the invention, when the elevator is being installed, at least one suspension element (17) is fastened to the upper part of the elevator shaft (2), an element (30) supporting the overspeed governor (28) is fitted to the suspension element and the position of the overspeed governor (28) at least in the vertical direction is so adjusted that it corresponds to the final placement of the overspeed governor (28). After the elevator guide rails (56) have been installed, the overspeed governor is removed from the suspension element (17) and fixed to a guide rail.