Abstract: A milking arrangement that includes at least a first and a second milking system for milking animals, a common entrance lane configured to allow a plurality of animals to enter the milking arrangement, and a guiding structure configured to guide each of the plurality of animals to either one of the first and second milking systems to be milked therein, where the guiding structure comprises a smart gate arrangement that guides each animal, after having been identified, to a respective one of the first and second milking systems depending on the identity of the animal, and where, depending upon selected periods of time, such as during periods of low expected or measured utilization of the milking arrangement, the smart gate arrangement guides each animal to a single one of the first and second milking systems irrespective of the identity of the animal.

Abstract: An animal enclosure (10) having a partly circular wall or fence (12), at least one barrier (36) located within the enclosure (10), the at least one barrier (36) being rotatable about a vertical axis (26), and actuation means for causing rotation of at least one of the at least one barrier (36), the actuation means being manually operable by an operator, the actuation means including a part or a portion (40) located externally of the enclosure (10) to thereby allow an operator to move the at least one barrier (36) from a location that is external to the enclosure (10). The actuation means includes a handle (40) extending externally of the enclosure (10) and a ratchet wheel operatively connected to the barrier (36).

Abstract: Milking robot device for automatically milking a dairy animal, comprising a milking box having milking cups and a robot arm having an end effector for applying the milking cups to the teats of the dairy animal, on which milking box the robot arm is suspended above the dairy animal to be milked. The robot arm comprises a first arm part connected to the milking box by a first joint, and a second arm part connected to the first arm part by a second joint and provided with an end effector. The first and second arm part, respectively, is pivotable in a vertical plane with respect to the milking box and the first arm part, respectively, by a first and second actuator, respectively. The end effector is movable within an operating range by the robot arm. The milking robot comprises a weight compensation device having a spring device between the milking box and the robot arm.

Abstract: A rotary milking station for milking, which includes a base having a circular path disposed about a given center. The rotary milking station also includes a driving assembly operatively mountable onto the base so as to be disposed about the circular path of the base. The rotary milking station also includes a carrousel operatively mountable onto the driving assembly, the carrousel being made out of sectional segments, each sectional segment having a lower protruding vertical portion and a pair of flange portions each projecting from a corresponding side of the vertical portion, the sectional segments being interconnected to another so as to define the carrousel, the vertical portions of the sectional segments being positioned, shaped and sized so as to be disposed along the circular path of the base and for cooperating with the driving assembly to enable the carrousel to be rotatably moveable with respect to the base.

Abstract: A milking device, including: a platform that is rotatable in a direction of rotation and includes an edge and a plurality of milking stations, and a milking mechanism for milking a dairy animal; a plurality of feeding troughs which are distributed along the edge, outside next to the platform on a fixed world frame and within reach of the dairy animals on the milking stations. The feeding troughs do not have to be made unnecessarily complicated and movable or foldable, so that reliability of in particular the feed portion of such a milking device can be improved.

Abstract: A milking device includes a support device (1) supporting a milking member (2) having a claw (3) and a number of teatcups (4) to be attached to a respective teat of an animal. The support device (1) includes a rear portion (6), an attachment part (9) attaching the support device to a structure, and an arm section (7) having a proximal end portion attached to the rear portion (6) and a distal end portion movable between an active position in the proximity of the animal to be milked and a rest position. A first cavity extends along the arm section and houses a retracting member for retracting the milking member from the teats of the animal. A second cavity for conveying a fluid flow extends along the arm section. The arm section includes an extruded part enclosing the first cavity and the second cavity.

Abstract: A docking device, for a milking parlor with a rotary platform and a plurality of milking stalls, includes a first docking unit with a part of a first milk line connected to the platform and a second docking unit with a part of a second milk line separately arranged from the platform. At least one of the docking units includes an adjusting mechanism allowing an adjustment of a position of said docking unit in relation to the other docking unit. At least one of the docking units is associated with a guiding surface configured to guide the other docking unit during the movement in order to reach the docking position in which a closed connection is provided between the outlet opening of the first docking unit and the inlet opening of the second docking unit.

Abstract: A method for performing teat related operations in a rotary milking system during an operation condition when a capacity required for performing the operations with respect to the teats of the milking animals is higher than a robot's capacity, includes estimating a required capacity for performing the operations; planning a semi-automated teat related operation procedure based on the robot's capacity and the estimated required capacity, according to which procedure a first fraction of the operations with respect to the teats of the milking animals should be performed automatically by the robot in a first zone, and a second fraction of the operations with respect to the teats of the milking animals should be performed manually in a second zone adjacent to the first zone; and performing the operations with respect to the teats of the milking animals according to the planned semi-automated teat related operation procedure.

Abstract: A camera cleaning system and method for a milking system which includes a rotating platform, plural milking stalls thereon, a robot for performing an animal related operation with respect to the animals in the milking stalls passing by the robot, and a camera in response to signals from which the robot moves, the camera cleaning system includes usage identifying arrangement to identify a future usage demand of the camera; a processing device to analyze the future usage demand of the camera to find at least one time slot when the camera is not to be used and which also occurs during certain conditions; and a cleaning arrangement arranged to clean the lens arrangement of the camera during the determined time slot.

Abstract: A roller of a support arrangement includes a first unit and a second unit releasably connected to each other via a connection mechanism, the first unit including a first side flange as well as an entire peripheral contact surface of the roller, and the second unit including a second side flange of the roller. In a mounted state, the peripheral contact surface is in contact with a contact portion of a first rail member connected to a rotary platform, and a contact portion of a stationary second rail member, with the two side flanges arranged on opposite sides of the contact surface. A plurality of the rollers is arranged in a vertical space between the first and second rail members.

Abstract: A rotary milking platform (1) comprises a plurality of apparatus, each of which comprises a platform (11) which forms a segment of the rotary platform (1). The platforms (11) define respective animal accommodating locations (3) for animals to be milked. A communicating opening (20) in each platform (11) is closed by a pair of closure plates (25) which are pivotal upwardly into an open state for separating the hind legs of an animal. A carriage (14) which is slideably carried beneath the platform (11) of each apparatus (10) in the directions of the arrows A and B. A teat cup carrier (15) is pivotally mounted in the carriage (14) of each apparatus (10) and is pivotal from a first state with teat cups (16) in the carrier (15) in a protective state extending horizontally and a second state with the teat cups (16) in a ready state extending vertically upwardly and ready for manual placement onto the teats of an animal.

Abstract: Facility for lactating animals includes pens in a freestall barn and a milking parlor where animals from the pens are simultaneously milked while separated. The number of animals from different pens in milking stalls is changed by sliding a parlor barrier past entrances and exits of parlor stalls. Each pen includes bedding free stalls, an alley accessible by the animals as they enter and leave the free stalls, and a movable barrier traversing the accessible alley. The pen barrier assures that animals go to the milking parlor. Paths cause animals in a first pen, prior to milking, to return to the first pen after milking while preventing animals in other pens, prior to milking, from entering the first pen after milking. There are separate return alleys to each pen from separate parlor exits. The pen barrier prevents animals from occupying stalls it passes and refurbishes these stalls.

Abstract: A rotary milking station (1) for milking cows and the like, the rotary milking station (1) including a base (3) having a circular path (5) disposed about a given center (7). The rotary milking station (1) also includes a driving assembly (9) operatively mountable onto the base (3) so as to be disposed about the circular path (5) of the base (3).

Abstract: A method for controlling a crowd gate comprises operating a milking parlor for a plurality of dairy livestock. The milking parlor comprises an entrance located adjacent to a holding pen, and a crowd gate that forms a side of the holding pen and moves toward and away from the entrance to the milking parlor. The method further comprises determining that dairy livestock should enter the milking parlor, and operating the crowd gate in response to determining that dairy livestock should enter the milking parlor. Operating the crowd gate comprises moving the crowd gate away from the entrance to the milking parlor prior to initiating movement towards the entrance, pausing the movement of the crowd gate, and moving the crowd gate towards the entrance of the milking parlor.

Abstract: An emergency stop device for a rotary platform (1) of milking parlor for a milking parlor that includes at least one component (10, 13a) arranged beside an edge portion (1a, 1b) of the platform (1). The emergency stop device includes a detecting element (13b) adapted to initiate an emergency stop of the rotary platform (1) in a case of an object being detected in a detecting area (13b1) located beside the edge portion (1a, 1b) of the platform (1) at an upstream distance (D) from the component (10, 13a) with respect to the rotary direction of the platform (1). The upstream distance (D) is longer than an estimated stopping distance (d) of the edge portion (1b) when the platform (1) is emergency stopped.

Abstract: A milking system for milking a herd of dairy animals includes a first milking device and a second milking device, an identification device for identifying dairy animals to be milked of a herd of dairy animals, and a control device for determining an estimated treatment time of each dairy animal to be milked. The control device also classifies each dairy animal to be milked with the aid of a criterion on the basis of the estimated treatment time in at least a first or second group of dairy animals. The milking system admits the first group of dairy animals to preferably only the first milking device and admits the second group to preferably only the second milking device.

Abstract: An apparatus for milking an animal and provides a milking parlor includes first and second robotic manipulation devices and a plurality of milking stalls provided on a platform moveable relative to the robotic manipulation devices. The robotic manipulation devices are positioned so that each of the robotic manipulation devices is able to simultaneously service two neighboring milking stalls on the platform.

Abstract: An animal treating arrangement includes a carrying device beside a milking platform rotating with a velocity and having animal places housing animals. The carrying device includes a fundament, a first bearing device (12) provided on the fundament, an arm (13) connected to the first bearing device permitting the arm to rotate in relation to the fundament around a first axis, a support platform (15) connected to the arm (13). A drive arrangement moves the support platform and includes a first drive member (31) rotating the arm around the first axis. A sensor (37) communicates with a control unit (36) and senses an instantaneous value of the velocity. The control unit controls the first drive member to move the support platform to follow the milking platform from a start position to an end position during a part of the rotation of the milking platform.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning milking stalls on a platform of a rotary parlour. The rotary parlour includes a robotic manipulation device configured to perform a primary task; a holding device configured to hold the end portion of the hose member in a predetermined parking position, and a control unit. When it is time to clean a milking stall on the platform, the control unit activates the robotic manipulation device such that, instead of performing a primary task, the robotic manipulation device performs an additional task in which the robotic manipulation device grips the end portion of a hose member and moves the end portion from a parking position to a number of cleaning positions from which liquid jets are sprayed from the outlet opening of the end portion against predetermined surfaces to be cleaned in the milking stall.

Abstract: A space divider (4) of a milking parlor arrangement (1, 1?, 1?, 1??) for at least one milking parlor (3) for milking milk-producing animals (T), wherein the space divider (4) is arranged approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis of the animal (T) to be milked, has an arm device (6) having a milking cluster (5), which can be adjusted from a parking position to a working position and back. The arm device (6) is arranged with the milking cluster (5) in the parking position in the space divider (4) and can be adjusted into the working position laterally to the animal (T) to be milked between the front and rear legs thereof. The space divider (4) is designed in such a way that no additional space is required between adjacent animals (T), so that many animals (T) can be milked in a milking parlor arrangement (1, 1?, 1?, 1??) while the smallest possible amount of space is required.

Abstract: The invention relates to a milking parlor arrangement (1), in particular a milking carousel, comprising at least one milking parlor (3) for milking milk-producing animals (T) and comprising an inner robot device with at least one robot arm (9). The at least one milking parlor (3) comprises two longitudinal sides and two narrow sides, namely a head narrow side and a hindquarters narrow side, one narrow side being paired with the head side of a milk-producing animal (T) to be milked as the head narrow side. The milking parlor also comprises an arm device (6) with a milking machine (5), said arm device being adjustable between a parked position and a working position and back. The at least one robot arm (9) is arranged on the head narrow side paired with the head side of the animal (T) to be milked of the at least one milking parlor (3) of the milking parlor arrangement (1) in order to adjust the arm device (6).

Abstract: A teat cup cleaning device having a heating chamber, provided with a discharge which is closable by a valve, and arranged for connection to a teat cup. A filling device is provided for filling the heating chamber with an amount of cleaning liquid, and a heating arrangement is arranged to heat the contents of the heating chamber to a temperature T higher than the boiling point Tk of the cleaning liquid at ambient pressure. The valve opens in this situation to deliver the heated cleaning liquid to the teat cup. The teat cup cleaning device also comprising a connecting line between a liquid supply and the discharge.

Abstract: A rotary parlour arranged to house animals to be milked includes an annular rotary platform (1), at least one milking stall (3) defined by at least one side wall element (2) and a storing device (8) adapted to hold teat cups (9) in a parking position, and a restricting element (8a, 13a, 16a) adapted to restrict the mobility of the animal (4) in the milking stall in a manner such that a free space (12) is created between the animal (4) and a side wall element (2) in a part of the milking stall (3), where the free space (12) is used by a robot arm (10) when fetching a teat cup in the storing device to attach to a teat of the animal (4) in the milking stall (3).

Abstract: The invention relates to a scraping device (14) for removing objects from a floor surface (1c) of a rotary milking platform (1). The scraping device (14) includes a scraper (18) configured to come into contact with and move an object on the floor surface (1c) of the rotary milking platform (1) during rotation, and a suspension device selectively supporting the scraper (18). The suspension device selectively supports the scraper (18) in each of i) a first position adjacent to the floor surface (1c) of the rotary milking platform (1) and ii) a second position in which the scraper (18) is pressed against the floor surface (1c) with a first force. The suspension device is configured to move the scraper (18) from the first position to the second position when the object on the floor surface (1c) hits the scraper (18) during rotation of the rotary milking platform (1).

Abstract: A system includes a carriage track positioned adjacent to a rotary milking platform, a robot carriage mounted to the carriage track, and a controller. The controller causes the robot carriage to move linearly along the carriage track in conjunction with a rotational movement of the rotary milking platform such that a first linear position of the robot carriage aligns with a first rotational position of a milking stall of the rotary milking platform and a second linear position of the robot carriage aligns with a second rotational position of the milking stall of the rotary milking platform.

Abstract: A rotary parlour for milking of animals includes a rotary platform unit and storing devices connected to the platform unit and adapted to hold a number of teat cups in predetermined parking positions. The storing devices are supported by a supporting mechanism comprising an elevating part adapted to move the storing device between an operating position in which the storing device holds at least a part of the parked teat cups at a higher level than the lowest level of the upper surface of the platform unit and a non-operative position in which both the storing device and the parked teat cups are located at a lower level than the lowest level of the upper surface of the platform unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for milking an animal and provides a milking parlour includes first and second robotic manipulation devices and a plurality of milking stalls provided on a platform moveable relative to the robotic manipulation devices. The robotic manipulation devices are positioned so that each of the robotic manipulation devices is able to simultaneously service two neighbouring milking stalls on the platform.

Abstract: An apparatus for milking an animal and provides a milking parlor includes first and second robotic manipulation devices and a plurality of milking stalls provided on a platform moveable relative to the robotic manipulation devices. The robotic manipulation devices are positioned so that each of the robotic manipulation devices is able to simultaneously service two neighboring milking stalls on the platform.

Abstract: A system includes a carriage track positioned adjacent to a rotary milking platform, a robot carriage mounted to the carriage track, and a controller. The controller is operable to receive both a first rotary encoder signal indicating a first rotational position of a milking stall of the rotary milking platform (corresponding to a starting linear position of the robot carriage) and a second rotary encoder signal indicating a second rotational position of the milking stall. The controller is further operable to determine, based on a difference between the first and second signals, a desired linear position of the robot carriage on the carriage track (a position corresponding to the second rotational position of the milking stall). The controller is further operable to communicate a position signal to a carriage actuator, the position signal causing the carriage actuator to move the robot carriage to the desired linear position.

Abstract: An autonomous device for executing one or more operations on or near the teats of a dairy animal for the purpose of milking the dairy animal, including a self-propelled wheeled undercarriage which can travel freely across a floor surface in at least two independent directions, and a robot arm which is fitted to the undercarriage and configured to execute the one or more operations on or near the teats of the dairy animal, the device configured to execute the one or more operations in a milking device with a milking floor on which the dairy animals are situated during milking, and the device being supported on a stationary pit floor during the execution of the one or more operations, which pit floor is at a lower level than the milking floor.

Abstract: An automatic animal retrieving platform assembly (10) and its method of operation for retrieving a domestic animal (12) from a stall (29) is described. The platform assembly retrieves and at least partly confines the domestic animal from a stall to effect a job function with the animal, such as for milking a cow in a dairy barn. The platform assembly (10) is displaceable on wheels (13) to position an entrance opening (24) thereof behind the animal stall. A displaceable floor (17) extends to the rear of the stall and retrieving arms (26, 27) are provided to grasp the animal and cause it to back-up slowly onto the displaceable floor where it is at least partly confined in a cage 18. After the job function is completed the retrieving arms (26, 27) release the animal and it returns freely to its stall. To help it return to its stall a tether (70) may be secured to a neck collar 30 of the animal.

Abstract: An arrangement for automatically cleaning teat cups of a rotary milking platform includes i) a cleaning device at the side of the platform, the cleaning device having a movable part provided with an outlet opening through which a cleaning fluid is supplied to the teat cups; and ii) a positioning unit arranged to provide positioning of the cleaning device to a cleaning position in which the cleaning device is able to supply the cleaning medium from the outlet opening to the teat cups, the positioning unit adapted to provide a positioning of the movable part of the cleaning device in relation to the teat cups from an inactive position on the side of the platform to an active position in which the movable part extends in over the platform towards the teat cups to the cleaning position.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a system includes a milking parlor entrance lane with an entrance positioned adjacent to a cattle holding pen and an exit positioned adjacent to one or more stalls of a rotary milking platform. The system also includes an exit lane positioned on a side of the entrance lane opposite a forward direction of rotation of the rotary milking platform, the milking parlor exit lane positioned adjacent to one or more stalls of a rotary milking platform such that dairy cows may enter the exit lane from the one or more stalls of the rotary milking platform after being milked. The system also includes a pressure sensor positioned adjacent to the exit lane, the pressure sensor operable to generate a trigger in response to detecting a triggering pressure on the pressure sensor. The pressure sensor is additionally operable to communicate the generated trigger to initiate the stopping of the rotary milking platform.

Abstract: A milking arrangement for animals includes rotary platform (2), a driving mechanism (12) adapted to provide a rotary motion of the platform (2), milking stalls (3) adapted to house the animals (1) to be milked on the platform (2), a blocking system (11, 20, 25) for blocking selected milking stalls (3) on the platform (1) temporarily such that the animals (1) do not have access to the blocked milking stalls (3) during a period of time and the remaining non-blocked milking stalls will be used more frequently.

Abstract: A milking parlour for animals comprising at least one milking stall arranged to receive an animal in a predetermined milking position, teat cups arranged to be used in milking the animal in the milking stall, a teat cup carrier arranged to store the teat cups in the milking stall when they are not used, and at least one robot arm provided with at least one gripping member arranged to grip a teat cup in the teat cup carrier and attach the teat cup on the teat of an animal in the milking stall. The teat cup carrier stores the teat cups in a storing area located at least partly in front of the front legs of the animal with respect to the direction of the animal when it stands in the predetermined milking position in the milking stall.

Abstract: A milking arrangement in includes a milking robot with a gripper (10). The robot includes a base, a link arrangement attached to the base and rotatable around a base axis via a base joint. The gripper (10) has a proximal end and a distal end and is attached to the link arrangement at the proximal end. The gripper has an extension plane and a longitudinal center axis (x4) extending in the extension plane through the proximal end and the distal end. The longitudinal center axis divides the gripper in a primary side (10a) and a secondary side (10b). The gripper has a plurality of separate gripping recesses (11-14), each being configured to grip a respective teatcup. The gripping recesses are asymmetrically positioned with respect to the longitudinal center axis.

Abstract: A milking arrangement includes a milking robot (10) having a first link (L1), a second link (L2), a third link (L3), an end effector (E), sensor (16) and a control unit (15). The first link is rotatable to a first angle within a first angle range (?1) via a first joint (11). The second link is rotatable to a second angle within a second angle range (?2) via a second joint (12). The third link (L3) is rotatable to a third angle within a third angle range (?3) via third joint (13). The links (L1, L2, L3) are rotatable so that the end effector is movable within a three-dimensional workspace (W). Each position of the end effector within the workspace corresponds to a single combination of the first, second and third angles.

Abstract: A portable apparatus (1) for milking of animals (11-16) which are permitted to go loose is described. The apparatus (1) comprises a plurality of stalls (2) with at least one local milk tank (4) in each stall. The apparatus (1) comprises at least two separate lines (19, 20) arranged to receive the milk from the local milk tanks (4) in dependence of the quality of the milk.

Abstract: A milking system for milking a herd of dairy animals includes a first milking device and a second milking device, an identification device for identifying dairy animals to be milked of a herd of dairy animals, and a control device for determining an estimated treatment time of each dairy animal to be milked. The control device also classifies each dairy animal to be milked with the aid of a criterion on the basis of the estimated treatment time in at least a first or second group of dairy animals. The milking system admits the first group of dairy animals to preferably only the first milking device and admits the second group to preferably only the second milking device.

Abstract: Safety switching device for a milking carousel, with a rotatably driven milking platform with a multiple number of milking stations, whereby preferably a milking machine is arranged at each milking station, and with at least one stationary, non-rotating animal passageway, as well as a gap arranged between the rotatable milking platform and the animal passageway, whereby the safety switching device has a movable switching paddle, as well as signaling device arranged or formed on the switching paddle, for triggering an alarm function, and whereby the switching paddle is designed and mounted in such a way that the distance to the outside peripheral edge (U) increases toward a free end.

Abstract: A rotary milking platform (1) comprises a plurality of apparatus, each of which comprises a platform (11) which forms a segment of the rotary platform (1). The platforms (11) define respective animal accommodating locations (3) for animals to be milked. A communicating opening (20) in each platform (11) is closed by a pair of closure plates (25) which are pivotal upwardly into an open state for separating the hind legs of an animal. A carriage (14) which is slideably carried beneath the platform (11) of each apparatus (10) in the directions of the arrows A and B. A teat cup carrier (15) is pivotally mounted in the carriage (14) of each apparatus (10) and is pivotal from a first state with teat cups (16) in the carrier (15) in a protective state extending horizontally and a second state with the teat cups (16) in a ready state extending vertically upwardly and ready for manual placement onto the teats of an animal.

Abstract: An arrangement for control of milking of animals permitted to move in an area that includes a milking area with an automatic milking system, the arrangement including at least one animal identification device for identifying the animals entering the milking area, and a process and control device operatively connected to the animal identification device. The process and control device determines, for each of the identified animals, an expected milk yield obtainable in milking that animal, determines repeatedly an accumulated expected milk yield obtainable in milking the identified animals based on the expected milk yields of the identified animals, and initiates a milking session depending on the repeatedly determined accumulated expected milk yield.

Abstract: An arrangement for control in an animal handling system includes an automated teat preparation station for preparation of teats of animals to be milked and a separately located milking system for milking of the animals. The arrangement is operatively connected to the teat preparation station and the milking system and includes a unit estimating a time left until the milking system is ready to receive a further animal to be milked; a unit estimating, for a animal present at the teat preparation station, a time for preparation of the teats of the animal; and initiating unit initiating automated preparation of the teats of the animal at a point of time, which is dependent on the estimated time left until the milking system is ready to receive a further animal to be milked and on the estimated time for preparation of the teats of the animal.

Abstract: A milking arrangement includes a milking robot (10) having a first link (L1), a second link (L2), a third link (L3), an end effector (E), sensor (16) and a control unit (15). The first link is rotatable to a first angle within a first angle range (?1) via a first joint (11). The second link is rotatable to a second angle within a second angle range (?2) via a second joint (12). The third link (L3) is rotatable to a third angle within a third angle range (?3) via third joint (13). The links (L1, L2, L3) are rotatable so that the end effector is movable within a three-dimensional workspace (W). Each position of the end effector within the workspace corresponds to a single combination of the first, second and third angles.

Abstract: A milking arrangement in includes a milking robot with a gripper (10). The robot includes a base, a link arrangement attached to the base and rotatable around a base axis via a base joint. The gripper (10) has a proximal end and a distal end and is attached to the link arrangement at the proximal end. The gripper has an extension plane and a longitudinal center axis (x4) extending in the extension plane through the proximal end and the distal end. The longitudinal center axis divides the gripper in a primary side (10a) and a secondary side (10b). The gripper has a plurality of separate gripping recesses (11-14), each being configured to grip a respective teatcup. The gripping recesses are asymmetrically positioned with respect to the longitudinal center axis.

Abstract: A system includes a first wall positioned substantially parallel to a second wall, a first end of the first wall and a first end of the second wall defining an entrance to a milking platform entrance lane having a width in the range of thirty inches to thirty-six inches. The system further includes a flare wall having a first end coupled to a second end of the second wall, the flare wall extending outwardly from the second wall at an angle in the range of thirty-five degrees to forty-five degrees with respect to the second wall. A second end of the flare wall and a second end of the first wall define an exit from the milking platform entrance lane having a width in the range of forty inches to fifty-four inches.

Abstract: An apparatus for milking an animal and provides a milking parlor (1) including first and second robotic manipulation devices (100, 200) and a plurality of milking stalls (5) provided on a platform (3) moveable relative to the robotic manipulation devices (100, 200) wherein the robotic manipulation devices (100, 200) are positioned so as to be capable of simultaneously servicing neighboring milking stalls (5) on the platform (3).

Abstract: A teat cup cleaning device having a heating chamber (2), provided with a discharge (3) which is closable by a valve (4), and arranged for connection to a teat cup. A filling device (20) is provided for filling the heating chamber (2) with an amount of cleaning liquid (11), and a heating arrangement is arranged to heat the contents of the heating chamber (2) to a temperature T higher than the boiling point Tk of the cleaning liquid at ambient pressure. The valve (4) opens in this situation to deliver the heated cleaning liquid to the teat cup. The teat cup cleaning device also comprising a connecting line (17) between a liquid supply and the discharge.

Abstract: An animal treating arrangement includes a carrying device beside a milking platform rotating with a velocity and having animal places housing animals. The carrying device includes a fundament, a first bearing device (12) provided on the fundament, an arm (13) connected to the first bearing device permitting the arm to rotate in relation to the fundament around a first axis, a support platform (15) connected to the arm (13). A drive arrangement moves the support platform and includes a first drive member (31) rotating the arm around the first axis. A sensor (37) communicates with a control unit (36) and senses an instantaneous value of the velocity. The control unit controls the first drive member to move the support platform to follow the milking platform from a start position to an end position during a part of the rotation of the milking platform.

Abstract: A method apparatus for teat dipping for sanitizing the udder of a cow either before or after milking. The apparatus has an extension arm with a dispersion portion so that when a cow is in a cleaning location the extension arm will extend underneath a cow's udder and dispersed cleaning fluid onto the cow's udder. A sensing system is used that detects the rotation of the parlor to determine if a cow is at a cleaning location. Further, the sensing system detects whether a cow is present in a stall of the rotary milking parlor.