Abstract: The cowshed installation comprises a milking area and a circular cowshed comprising a center area and a substantially concentric surrounding loafing area. The milking area is located radially outwardly of the loafing area.

Abstract: A milking parlor, milking module, and a closing unit comprising at least two closing members to optionally release or close a corresponding number of openings in a milking parlor floor which serves as a standing area. The closing members are disposed to be rotatable about a rotational axis at least between a closed position and an open position, wherein the open position allows at least one animal-related treatment means to be guided through said opening. Said rotational axis is disposed in a central region between the closing members.

Abstract: A construction and a method for treating animals, in particular for milking lactating animals, with a milking module or a milking place and with a standing area for the animal to be treated and at least one opening in the standing area through which at least one treatment device can be passed. There is provided a pivotable milking module with at least two functional components, supported to be rotatable around a hinge pin disposed beneath the standing area, at least one functional component comprising at least one treatment device. The treatment device can be moved automatically, by way of a pivoting movement about the hinge pin of the milking module disposed beneath the standing area, from a rest position disposed beneath the standing area to a presentation position disposed at least in part above the standing area.

Abstract: A method of milking an animal, in which method a movable milking platform is used. The method comprises the following steps: setting the movable milking platform in motion, allowing an animal access to the milking platform, supplying a sort of feed to an animal on the milking platform, subsequently allowing the animal exit from the milking platform, and milking the animal on the milking platform during a milking period. The method further comprises the step of providing the animal a span of time on the milking platform in which the animal is not milked, the span of time having a magnitude that amounts to at least approximately half the milking period.

Abstract: Device for pneumatically milking a cow, comprising a number of milk extractors, each comprising a teat cup as well as milk line connected to the lower end of the teat cup, which line leads from the teat cup to a collection chamber for the milk from the teat cup, each milk extractor being provided with a supply for a cleansing medium, such as a disinfectant, to the teat cup, in particular to a teat present in the teat cup, the supply comprising a line having an end portion with discharge end, and each milk extractor being provided with means for closing off the passage of the milk extraction at or downstream of the discharge end of the line for cleansing medium, preferably at that level, when discharging the cleansing medium, the closing means comprising a reciprocating closing body that can be moved between a position leaving the passage of the milk extractor free and a position closing it off, the closing body being provided with a squirt line forming the end portion with discharge end of the line for supply

Abstract: An assembly for feeding and milking animals comprises a feeding system with a movable feed platform and a drive unit for driving the feed platform. The feed platform is provided with a number of feeding places. The assembly further comprises a milking system for automatically milking animals on the feed platform, which milking system comprises sets of teat cups. At least a large number of the sets of teat cups is disposed separately from the feed platform.

Abstract: An assembly for feeding and milking animals. The assembly is provided with a feeding system comprising a movable feed platform and a drive unit for driving the feed platform, a number of feeding places being provided on the feed platform. The assembly also includes a milking system for, in particular automatically, milking animals on the feed platform, which milking system comprises a number of sets of teat cups. An area where the animals are allowed to move freely communicates via an entrance with the feed platform, the width of the entrance being sufficiently large to enable simultaneous access of several animals to the feed platform. The entrance is free from a closing device.

Abstract: An assembly for feeding and milking animals. The assembly is provided with a feeding system comprising a movable feed platform and a drive unit for driving the feed platform, a number of feeding places being provided on the feed platform. The assembly is further provided with a milking system for, in particular automatically, milking animals on the feed platform, which milking system comprises a number of sets of teat cups. The feed platform is at least for the greater part free from separating elements between the feeding places, i.e. the feed platform is at least for the greater part free from separating elements for confining animals.

Abstract: For the determination of the occupancy of a milking stall by an animal, in particular a cow, in a rotary milking parlor with a plurality of milking stalls which are disposed on a rotatable milking platform, a process is proposed in which the identification of the animal only takes place after it has entered the milking stall in which it is supposed to be milked.

Abstract: A milking parlor for presenting an animal to be milked rearwardly loads the animal into a milking stall through an ingress/egress gate and forwardly unloads the animal from the milking stall through the same ingress/egress gate to pass along a unique exit path to a released area.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rotary parlour for milking of animals. The parlour comprises a rotary platform (3) arranged to constitute a support surface for the animals, stalling means arranged to divide the platform (3) into stalls for receiving individual animals (1), driving means arranged to rotate the platform (3) and milking means (11) arranged to be attached to the animals (1). The platform (3) comprises a number of platform modules (8) each having a front edge (9) connected to a rear edge (10) of another platform module (8) at a determined angle of at least two possible angles in relation to each other in such a manner that the platform (3) obtains an annular extension having a size related to said determined angle.

Abstract: A rotary milking parlor milker detacher having a pivoting support arm and retracting chain arrangement that is synchronized with a rotating platform position to move the detacher between a storage position, a presentation position, and a milking position to protect the detacher from damage and provide a superior ergonomic design that reduces operator fatigue and turnover.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of milking animals which uses an implement having a moveable floor on which the animals are milked in milking spaces. The animals enter and exit the floor via automatic gates. The invention involves automatic adjustment of the speed to the moveable floor first, on an estimated milking time of the animals presently in a milk flow mode, i.e. attached to a milking unit and second whether milking units have been attached to the animals before leaving an attachment zone, where the milking units are attached to the animals, either manually or automatically by a robot. The speed of the movable floor is primarily adjusted with the aim at optimizing the occupancy rate of the implement for milking animals with respect to the first condition. The second condition places constraint on when a speed increase is permitted.

Abstract: An attachment (2) for a rotary milking platform (1) characterised in that the attachment (2) is in the form of a frame surrounding at least one elongated aperture (7) positioned on or near the circumference of the rotary platform (1), the frame connected to the platform (1) by spacers (3), wherein the elongated aperture (7) can accommodate hosing associated with milking equipment.

Abstract: A rotary milking parlor milker detacher having a pivoting support arm and retracting chain arrangement that is synchronized with a rotating platform position to move the detacher between a storage position, a presentation position, and a milking position to protect the detacher from damage and provide a superior ergonomic design that reduces operator fatigue and turnover.

Abstract: A milking parlor having a plurality of translatable shuttle stalls allows for presentation of animals to be milked and corresponding release of the animals, independent of the milking status of additional animals. The shuttle stalls can be disposed in a herringbone or perpendicular orientation with respect to a corresponding operator pit, wherein the operator pit can accommodate human or robotic devices for implementing the milking process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rotary parlour for milking of animals, especially cows (1). The parlour includes a rotary platform (2) having dividing members (3) arranged to divide the platform (2) into stalls. The dividing members (3) have a substantially straight extension between a first end (4) and a second end (5). The dividing members (3) are each connected to a feeding trough (7) constituting a unit arranged turnably around a vertical axis (8). A center (9) of the feeding trough (7) is located at a distance from a vertical plane (10) extending through the first (4) and second (5) ends of the dividing member (3). By such an arrangement of the feeding trough (7) in relation to the dividing member, it is possible for the animals to stand in a naturally straight position and to eat from the feeding troughs (7) during the milking operation.

Abstract: A milking system including apparatus and a method for facilitating the milking of a large number of animals in a milking parlor. Milking stalls in the parlor are arranged to provide a one way-path of travel through the parlor with a controlled entry and exit to facilitate pre- and post-milking treatment of the animals. The milking stalls are separated by an operator's pit. A platform or person mover disposed in the pit carries an operator from one milking stall to another wherein the proximity of a working side of the platform to the stalls allows the operator to have direct access to an animal without leaving the platform. Movement of the platform to a given stall is controlled by a controller acting responsive to sensors that indicate the occurrence of an event at the given stall requiring the operator's attention.

Abstract: For the determination of the occupancy of a milking stall by an animal, in particular a cow, in a rotary milking parlor with a plurality of milking stalls which are disposed on a rotatable milking platform, a process is proposed in which the identification of the animal only takes place after it has entered the milking stall in which it is supposed to be milked.

Abstract: A rotary milking parlor milker detacher having a pivoting support arm and retracting chain arrangement that is synchronized with a rotating platform position to move the detacher between a storage position, a presentation position, and a milking position to protect the detacher from damage and provide a superior ergonomic design that reduces operator fatigue and turnover.

Abstract: A modular milking parlor has a rigid frame on which the components of the milking parlor such as milking stations and cow control systems are mounted. The milking parlor frame includes a rectangular frame base and upright members extending upwardly from the frame base. The modular parlor can be conveniently shipped as a unit by attaching wheeled carriages to the frame of the modular parlor and elevating the milking parlor by operating jacks on the carriages attached to the wheels. The modular milking parlor as supported by the wheels may be rolled to a truck which transports the modular parlor to the installation site, and can be rolled on the wheels from the truck to the position at which the modular parlor is to be installed, at which point the carriage jacks are operated to drop the modular parlor on the ground, and the carriages are removed.

Abstract: An attachment (2) for a rotary milking platform (1) characterised in that the attachment (2) is in the form of a frame surrounding at least one elongated aperture (7) positioned on or near the circumference of the rotary platform (1), the frame connected to the platform (1) by spacers (3), wherein the elongated aperture (7) can accommodate hosing associated with milking equipment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rotary parlour for milking of animals, especially cows (1). The parlour includes a rotary platform (2) having dividing members (3) arranged to divide the platform (2) into stalls. The dividing members (3) have a substantially straight extension between a first end (4) and a second end (5). The dividing members (3) are each connected to a feeding trough (7) constituting a unit arranged tumably around a vertical axis (8). A center (9) of the feeding trough (7) is located at a distance from a vertical plane (10) extending through he first (4) and second (5) ends of the dividing member (3). By such an arrangement of the feeding trough (7) in relation to the dividing member, it is possible for the animals to stand in a naturally straight position and to eat from the feeding troughs (7) during the milking operation.

Abstract: A modular milking parlor has a rigid frame on which the components of the milking parlor such as milking stations and cow control systems are mounted. The milking parlor frame includes a rectangular frame base and upright members extending upwardly from the frame base. The modular parlor can be conveniently shipped as a unit by attaching wheeled carriages to the frame of the modular parlor and elevating the milking parlor by operating jacks on the carriages attached to the wheels. The modular milking parlor as supported by the wheels may be rolled to a truck which transports the modular parlor to the installation site, and can be rolled on the wheels from the truck to the position at which the modular parlor is to be installed, at which point the carriage jacks are operated to drop the modular parlor on the ground, and the carriages are removed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rotary parlour for milking of animals. The parlour comprises a rotary platform (3) arranged to constitute a support surface for the animals, stalling means arranged to divide the platform (3) into stalls for receiving individual animals (1), driving means arranged to rotate the platform (3) and milking means (11) arranged to be attached to the animals (1). The platform (3) comprises a number of platform modules (8) each having a front edge (9) connected to a rear edge (10) of another platform module (8) at a determined angle of at least two possible angles in relation to each other in such a manner that the platform (3) obtains an annular extension having a size related to said determined angle.

Abstract: A milking siphon positioner for repositioning milking equipment within a milking parlor is shown and described. A swing arm is pivotally mounted within a bearing so that it may swing in a swing arc defined in a plane which is at least substantially vertical. A milking siphon suitable for attachment to an animal's teats is carried on the swing arm so that it is repositioned by the swing arm; for example, the swing arm may reposition the milking siphon to milking platforms situated on opposite sides of milking parlors. The swing arm may be selectively affixed with respect to the bearing at selected angles within the swing arc, so that the swing arm (and milking siphon) can be locked into desired positions.