Abstract: An apparatus for automatically milking an animal, comprising at least one teatcup having a teat entrance end (17a), and a movable arm (6, 40) for moving the teatcup toward a teat of an animal to be milked and attaching it thereto. The teat entrance end of the teatcup is arranged, while being moved by the movable arm (6, 40) toward the teat, to be held in relation to the movable arm (6, 40) at a level which is different from that of the teat entrance end (17a) of a further teatcup, when held in relation to the movable arm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and method for the milking of dairy animals (9), comprising individual identifiers (11) attachable to each individual diary animal (9); simple feeding station (3′-3″″), provided with food dispenser (4) for dispensing fodder and sensor (15) for sensing the individual identifiers (11); combined feeding and milking stations (5′, 5″), provided with food dispensers (6) for dispensing fodder, milking apparatus (7) for milking animals (9) and sensors (15) for sensing the individual identifiers (11); and control device (8, 19) for controlling the simple feeding stations (3′, 3″″) and combined feeding and milking stations (5′, 5″), wherein the control device (8, 19) comprises determining apparatus (19) for determining a time for the next milking of said individual animal (9); and output apparatus (21) for commanding the single feeding stations (3′,3″″) to stop dispensing food to the individual animal

Abstract: A protecting device (2) for a teat localizer, comprising a housing (4) having side walls, a top wall and a bottom wall, and being adapted to accommodate a localizer comprising an illuminator (20) and a viewing element (22). One (14) of the walls comprises a transparent portion providing an unimpeded light beam path for the localizer (20,22). The housing is provided with moisture deposition-preventing element for preventing moisture deposition on at least the inside surface of the transparent wall portion (14). The moisture deposition-preventing element comprises a partition wall (26) in the housing at a distance from the inside surface of the transparent wall portion. This partition wall and at least parts of the housing walls together define within the housing a through-flow gas chamber (30) having a gas inlet (28,32) and a gas outlet (36) allowing a moisture-removing gas flow (F) to be maintained past and close to the inside surface by connecting the gas inlet supply (34) of scavenging gas.

Abstract: An automatic milking apparatus comprises a milking equipment having at least one teatcup (11), a robot arm (8) for attaching a teatcup to an animal's teat, an animal identification means (5, 6) for allowing identification of an animal individual, and an animal space (1) provided with an animal accepting/rejecting means (2) associated with a control means. A method of controlling the automatic milking apparatus is also described. According to the invention, said control means is programmed to allow an animal substantially in the beginning of its lactation period to be milked more often than in a later stage thereof.

Abstract: An animal related apparatus is provided for automatically performing an animal related operation, comprising a robot arm (4), a camera means (8) provided with at least one lens and a light source means (6). According to the invention, said camera means (8) is arranged on said robot arm (4); the light source means (6) is arranged in relation to said camera means (8) such that an object to be viewed is illuminated from substantially the same direction as it is viewed; and said light source means (6) is a flash light means adapted to supply at least one short, intensive light flash for illumination of a part of an animal to be viewed by said camera means.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a teat cleaning device having cleaning surfaces (27) on a base (9) wherein the cleaning surfaces (27) can be moved from a first position near to the periphery of said base (9) to a second position nearer to the center of said base (9).

Abstract: A milking arrangement comprising a milking apparatus, having at least one teatcup (2) and a teatcup magazine (5) for holding the teatcup. The teatcup (2) has an opening through which a teat of an animal is introduced during the attachment of the teatcup to the teat. The teatcup magazine (5) comprises at least one first member (6) provided to receive the teatcup and a second member (7) provided to support the first member (6). The first member (6) is movably connected to the second member (7) between a first position, in which the teatcup (2) received by the first member has its opening turned substantially downwards, and a second position in which the teatcup (2) is received by the first member has its opening turned in direction substantially deviating from the downward direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for recognizing and determining the position of a part of an animal.

Abstract: A milking stall for housing an animal to be subjected to an animal-related action, comprises an enclosure (2, 3, 4, 17), defining a space (1) and having at least one passage permitting the animal to enter the space, and equipment (5, 8) for the performance of the action regarding the animal being present in the space. In order to attract the animal and make it feel comfortable, there is provided a conditioning device having an air delivery apparatus (18, 18a) adapted to produce an air flow at least to the space (1). Furthermore, it is contemplated that the supply of clean air is of importance for the function of the equipment.