Abstract: An infrastructure arrangement and method for a farm animal shed includes a stationary position determination network having multiple optics-free position determination network points and at least one autonomous shed vehicle. The autonomous shed vehicle has a drive and a charging interface for the drive, an optics-free position determination apparatus, a coupling apparatus for detachably securing various functional units, and a control unit. The infrastructure arrangement and method also includes at least one charging station for charging the drive of the autonomous shed vehicle, at least one fitting station for fitting the autonomous shed vehicle with various functional units and/or work materials, and at least one data transmission unit, wherein the control unit of the autonomous shed vehicle is designed to take information of the position determination apparatus and of the data transmission unit as a basis for generating a schedule for the autonomous shed vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to preparing dairy animal teats for being milked, and more particularly to teat preparation, rinsing, and milking that all take place in a milking machine teat cup liner. Such a method includes: applying a teat sanitizer to the teat; injecting air into the liner to force the teat sanitizer toward a waste milk line connected to the liner; pulsating the liner at a first pulsation rate; drawing a rinsing milk from the teat; directing the teat sanitizer, the air, and the rinsing fluid to the waste milk line; pulsating the liner at a second pulsation rate to draw additional milk from the teat; and directing the additional milk to a good milk line.

Abstract: A milking implement comprising a frame with, disposed thereon, at least one teat cup holder with a teat cup movable relative thereto, and a replacing element connected with the teat cup, wherein the frame further includes an intermediate arm connected with the frame and with the teat cup holder and having a first joint and a second joint about which the teat cup holder and the intermediate arm, respectively, are tiltable with the aid of the replacing element, and a spring coupled with the teat cup holder and the frame and, if desired, with the intermediate arm.

Abstract: An unmanned vehicle for supplying feed to an animal, which is provided with a frame, with propulsion mechanism disposed thereon, feed supplier for supplying feed and navigator connected to the propulsion mechanism with a sensor for forming an image of an observation area, wherein the sensor comprises: a source of radiation for emitting modulated electromagnetic radiation, a receiver device for radiation reflected by an object, comprising a matrix with rows and columns of receivers, an optical device and sensor image processor configured to determine for the receivers a phase difference between the emitted electromagnetic radiation and the reflected electromagnetic radiation in order to calculate a distance from the receiver to the object. Through use of the unmanned vehicle device an excellent and reliable navigation is possible, so that, for example, milk can be conveyed efficiently from a milking implement to a calf.

Abstract: A milking implement comprising a frame with, disposed thereon, at least one teat cup holder with a teat cup movable relative thereto, and a replacing element connected with the teat cup, wherein the frame further includes an intermediate arm connected with the frame and with the teat cup holder and having a first joint and a second joint about which the teat cup holder and the intermediate arm, respectively, are tiltable with the aid of the replacing element, and a spring coupled with the teat cup holder and the frame and, if desired, with the intermediate arm.

Abstract: A milking implement comprising a frame with, disposed thereon, at least one teat cup holder with a teat cup movable relative thereto, and a replacing element connected with the teat cup, wherein the frame further includes an intermediate arm connected with the frame and with the teat cup holder and having a first joint and a second joint about which the teat cup holder and the intermediate arm, respectively, are tiltable with the aid of the replacing element, and a spring coupled with the teat cup holder and the frame and, if desired, with the intermediate arm.

Abstract: Device for milking an animal, such as a cow, comprising an animal standing area to be occupied by the animal to be milked in a particular milking position and a robot device with a robot arm assembly for applying to and/or removing teat cups from the respective teats of the udder of the animal, wherein the robot arm assembly at a distal end is provided with holding means for the teat cups, wherein the robot arm assembly at a proximal end is suspended from a support so as to extend downwards therefrom and is rotatable with respect thereto about a first centre line which has a vertical direction component, wherein, in use, the first centre line intersects the floor of the animal standing area.

Abstract: A milking implement comprising a frame with, disposed thereon, at least one teat cup holder with a teat cup movable relative thereto, and a replacing element connected with the teat cup, wherein the frame further includes an intermediate arm connected with the frame and with the teat cup holder and having a first joint and a second joint about which the teat cup holder and the intermediate arm, respectively, are tiltable with the aid of the replacing element, and a spring coupled with the teat cup holder and the frame and, if desired, with the intermediate arm.

Abstract: A teat cup carrier is designed to be able to co-operate with a feed platform, which teat cup carrier is freely movable relative to the feed platform. The teat cup carrier carries, besides teat cups, further milking elements for milking an animal, the further milking elements including at least a milk storage vessel for storing milk, a milking vacuum source and a pulsation vacuum source. The milk storage vessel is provided with a milk outlet. The freely movable teat cup carrier is in particular a self-propelled (autonomous) mobile teat-cup-carrying robot and comprises a control unit for controlling the functioning of the mobile teat-cup-carrying robot.

Abstract: An installation for automatically milking an animal is provided with a box for containing an animal to be milked and with a robot arm for automatically connecting teat cups to the teats of the animal. The installation also includes an animal recognition device for supplying an animal recognition signal representative of the identity of the animal, a computer with a memory and an input device for inputting animal data relating to the animal into the memory. The animal recognition signal is automatically linkable in the memory with the animal data by operating the input device.

Abstract: A teat cup carrier is designed to be able to co-operate with a feed platform, which teat cup carrier is freely movable relative to the feed platform. The teat cup carrier carries, besides teat cups, further milking elements for milking an animal, the further milking elements including at least a milk storage vessel for storing milk, a milking vacuum source and a pulsation vacuum source. The milk storage vessel is provided with a milk outlet. The freely movable teat cup carrier is in particular a self-propelled (autonomous) mobile teat-cup-carrying robot and comprises a control unit for controlling the functioning of the mobile teat-cup-carrying robot.

Abstract: A vehicle for automatically milking dairy farm animals which carries a milk reservoir having milk lines which connect to a set of teat cups that are automatically connected to animals' teats by a milking robot. The vehicle is supported from the underlying surface by wheels, caterpillar tracks, or an air cushion, and includes navigational equipment which controls the vehicle so that it positions itself under the animals' teats whereupon the teat cups automatically placed on the relevant animals' teats one by one or in pairs. The vehicle also has its own propulsion power source. The vehicle including all its components is movable and displaceable as a whole. A gripping mechanism for connecting the vehicle to an animal may be included. In a variation, a central station carries a milk reservoir and a plurality of satellite milking units as described above seek out and milk the dairy farm animals.

Abstract: A construction for automatically milking animals is provided with a milk reservoir (3; 13), with milk lines and with a milking robot (5) having at least one teat cup (6; 20) and means (9, 10; 19) for connecting the teat cup(s) (6, 20) to the teats of an animal (1; 11) to be milked. The construction (2; 12; 25, 26) is designed so as to be displaceable as a whole. The construction (2; 12; 25, 26) is further provided with own propulsion means (7; 23, 24), which results in a wide range of application possibilities and a high degree of flexibility in use.

Abstract: A construction for automatically milking animals comprises a milking robot with teat cup(s) (6) and means (10, 11) for connecting the teat cups (6) to the teats of an animal (7) to be milked. The teat cups (6) are disposed on a carrying element (8) which is supported by the floor (9) of the milk box (1), provided with propulsion means and suitable for moving across a two-dimensional part of the floor surface (9) of the milk box (1). The carrying element (8) is compact and easy to control.