Abstract: A mechanical manifold valve for robotic milking that is designed to operate at varying pressures, and which is operated automatically according to the pressure in at least one of the teat cups, such that the pressure in that teat cup influences the operation of the manifold valve, thereby controlling the pressure in at least one additional teat cup.

Abstract: A cleaner includes a high-pressure air generation unit and a nozzle. The high-pressure air generation unit includes a cylinder, a piston supported to the cylinder to be freely moveable and deliver the high-pressure air toward the nozzle, an urging spring urges the piston, and a movement mechanism which moves the piston to a predetermined position. The movement mechanism comprises a worm which rotate by a driving unit, and a worm wheel meshed with the worm and which rotate in association with rotation of the worm. The worm wheel comprises a pinion having gear teeth protruding from an outer periphery thereof. The piston is coupled with a rack having rack teeth which mesh with the gear teeth, and wherein an interval between each gear tooth of the gear teeth and one adjacent gear tooth is different from an interval between each gear tooth and the other adjacent gear tooth.

Abstract: Structural simplification and efficient injection state of high-pressure air from a nozzle are ensured. A foreign material removal device is provided with: a cylinder (18) into which air is caused to flow; a piston (22) which is movably supported in the cylinder and feeds the air introduced into the cylinder in a feeding direction as high-pressure air; and a nozzle (6) which injects the high-pressure air fed by the piston. Thus, the piston is moved relative to the cylinder, the high-pressure air is fed from the cylinder, and the high-pressure air is injected from the nozzle, whereby structural simplification and an efficient injection state of the high-pressure air from the nozzle can be ensured.

Abstract: A tubular element (9) tubular element (9) provides an inner space forming a passage for conducting milk, with a first material portion (9a) which constitutes the main part of the tubular element (9) and an additional material portion (9b) which includes a vent passage (9b) adapted to supply air to the inner space of the tubular element (9). The first material portion (9a) and the additional material portion (9b) are fixedly connected to each other in a contact area (9d) such that the material portions (9a, b) form an integrated unit. A method of manufacturing the tubular element.

Abstract: A milking apparatus that is used to extract milk from dairy animals includes a vacuum source, a milking liner cooperating with a shell to define a pulsation chamber; and a pulsator in fluid communication with the pulsation chamber and the vacuum source. The pulsator is configured to produce at least a four-phase milking cycle in the milking liner with the cycle including at least an A phase and a C phase. The A phase is wherein the liner is changed from a closed configuration to an open configuration during which the pulsator provides fluid communication between the pulsation chamber and the vacuum source. The C phase is wherein the liner is changed from an open configuration to a closed configuration during which the pulsator allows atmospheric air to flow into the pulsation chamber. A restrictor is disposed in the path of the fluid communication between the pulsator and the pulsation chamber with the restrictor slowing the C phase compared to the A phase.

Abstract: A stimulation device is provided for an automatic milking device having a plurality of milking cups. A vacuum device generates a negative pressure needed for milking and for the stimulation device. The stimulation device can be controllable to vary the stimulation independent from the pulsator system. Another system for stimulating milk producing animals includes a mobile stimulation device.

Abstract: A valve assembly adapted to be used in a milking operation where the valve assembly comprises an actuator portion and a valve portion where the valve portion has a milking position and a cleaning position where when in a milking position a transverse slot located between a cleaning fluid passage and a first milking passage provides a fluid short circuit so in the event of a leak the cleaning fluid passage and the first milking passage will not communicate with one another.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and device for checking the teat rubber of a teat cup. The object of this invention is providing a simple and reliable method for checking the teat rubber and a device suitable for implementing the method. In this respect, this invention suggests that the behavior of the teat rubber is acquired with a pressure difference profile acting between the pulse cavity and the pressure cavity and this currently determined behavior is compared with a reference behavior. The device according to the invention comprises a device for the direct checking of the teat rubber behavior.

Abstract: A milking apparatus for laboratory animals enables a milking operation to be performed on a laboratory animal (such as a rat) by a single experimenter, and also enables universal milking data to be obtained that is not influenced by individual difference among experimenters. A teat cup enables milking to be performed directly from the nipple of a relatively small and prolific laboratory animal such as a rat and mouse. The invention provides useful means for clarifying the influence of harmful extrinsic substances on living organisms via milk. The apparatus comprises a milk-collecting container 10 whose inside can be kept blocked from the outside air, two, i.e., a first and second, tubes 12, 13 inserted into the milk-collecting container in a communicated manner, and a teat cup 20 replaceably mounted on the other end of the first tube 12.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vacuum regulator (1) for maintaining a substantially constant vacuum in a vacuum system (2). The vacuum regulator (1) includes a main valve arranged to control a supply of air to the vacuum system (2). The main valve includes a valve seat (3) defining a passage (4) arranged to lead air to the vacuum system (2) and a valve body (5) moveably arranged in a direction between a closed position and a maximally open position in order to regulate the size of a minimum flow area (18) between the valve seat (3) and the valve body (5). A force (19) caused by the vacuum acts on the valve body (5) in a direction towards the closed position. The valve seat (3) and the valve body (5) have such a design, that the value of the force (19), in a continuous way, increases with the degree of opening of the valve body (5).

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus and method for monitoring pulsation of a milking system in a dairy facility. The milking system includes vacuum hoses that extend from a vacuum source to a milking claw. The pressure in each vacuum hose is changed by a pulsator, with the vacuum hoses being out of phase with one another. The pressure sensors are coupled to the respective vacuum hoses, which sensors monitor the pressure pulsations to ensure that the pulsator is operating satisfactorily. The pressure sensors are coupled to the vacuum hoses by way of passageways or hoses. A bypass is provided between the passageways so as to provide air circulation in the otherwise dead air space in these passageways. The bypass is small so as to not interfere with the pressure measurements by the sensors and is located in close proximity to the pressure sensors so as to minimize the amount of dead air space.

Abstract: A diaphragm valve for shutting off milk flow through a claw (13) of a vacuum driven milking machine has, in a preferred embodiment, a lever (5) linked (6), outside the milk flow, to the diaphragm (4), thereby avoiding any bushings which are prone to leakage. The lever (5) can be swung manually to a position holding the diaphragm away from its seat thereby permitting milk flow. In the automatically closing embodiments, the lever is swung in this case against the bias of a spring (7) and is retained in this open position if the suction force acting on the diaphragm (4) and the link (6) is sufficient to overcome the bias of the spring (7), which will be the case when there is normal milk flow through the valve.

Abstract: A milking apparatus for laboratory animals enables a milking operation to be performed on a laboratory animal (such as a rat) by a single experimenter, and also enables universal milking data to be obtained that is not influenced by individual difference among experimenters. A teat cup enables milking to be performed directly from the nipple of a relatively small and prolific laboratory animal such as a rat and mouse. The invention provides useful means for clarifying the influence of harmful extrinsic substances on living organisms via milk.

Abstract: A vacuum control system for controlling vacuum while an animal is being milked. The vacuum control system comprises a vacuum pump which is interconnected to a buffer vessel via a vacuum line. Each teat cup of the milking apparatus has a milk line which interconnects the teat cup to the buffer vessel. The teat cup is also interconnected to the vacuum pump via a pulse line which contains a pulsator. A regulator which includes an rpm governor and an electronic filter unit is connected to the vacuum pump and also by the filter unit to a vacuum sensor which, in turn is connected to the vacuum line. The filter unit is connected both to the rpm governor and to an electronic fast-acting control valve which is activated by the regulator on the basis of signals which it receives from the vacuum sensor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and method for cleaning and pre-milking teats. The device comprises a teat receiving means (3, 53) having a teat receiving opening (5, 55) and cleaning means (9, 59), and it further comprises vacuum-supplying means (19, 69) and teat receiving opening sealing means (6, 56). Means (14, 16, 18, 20, 22) for sterilising teats may also be provided.