Abstract: A milking machine system includes a flow rate sensing device, a timing device, and a system control means for varying the character of the working and massage vacuums during the milking process, in response to the rate of milk flow and to time. The milking machine system can be controlled in predetermined phases, such as a stimulation phase, a milking phase, a post-milking phase, and a switch-off phase, with the duration of the phases dependent on the rate of milk flow reaching certain predetermined levels and on time lapse parameters. The level of the working vacuum or massage vacuum can be varied in each phase with the massage vacuum pulses also variable as to pulse frequency and duration. The teat cups can also be operated independently of one another, and can be subjected periodically to sequential pulses of the massage vacuum to operate the teat cups sequentially.

Abstract: The pipeline milking system has a venting arrangement in the form of a receptacle having a milk inlet connected to a milking means, a milk outlet controlled by a float or the like and connected to the system's milk transport conduit, and an air outlet connected to a working vacuum source via a reducing means which comprises a control valve connected to a control vacuum source and operable to control the vacuum in the receptacle in relation to the control vacuum.