Abstract: A milking claw for efficiently drawing milk is disclosed. The milking claw includes a claw top and a claw bottom. The claw top includes a pair of front inlets, a pair of rear inlets, and an outlet. The front inlets and the rear inlets extend upwardly from a top surface of the claw top and are spaced on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of the claw top. The outlet includes an air channel along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis and a flow passage disposed below the air channel. The flow passage includes a horizontal portion and a vertical portion. The claw bottom is disposed below the claw top and includes a dividing wall, a sump, and a raised knob disposed within the sump.

Abstract: An improved high capacity milking claw comprising a top section removably connected to a bottom section to define a chamber that receives milk. A pressure manifold/collecting assembly attaches to the top section to flow milk into the chamber and connects to a vacuum system that draws milk from an animal. A bolt extends through a mounting stem in the bottom section to clamp the two sections together. Milk exits the chamber through a downwardly angled outlet. A transition area at the entrance to the outlet includes a scoop that extends below the lower end of the bottom section to increase the transition area and facilitate flow of milk from the chamber to achieve and maintain a stable vacuum. The scoop has a scoop length extending to the mounting stem, which is offset from the centerline of the bottom section to increase the size of the scoop.

Abstract: A milking liner includes an integrated short air tube and short milk tube. In one configuration, the pulsation air is delivered through the bead of the milking liner directly inside the shell when the liner is connected to the shell. In another configuration, the integrated short air tube has an outlet outside the shell. The disclosure also provides aligned nipple pairs on the claw top. One configuration is provided wherein the pulsation nipples and air fork are integrated with the claw that has the liner nipples. Another configuration is provided wherein the air fork is separate from the claw. A method of readily supplying pulsation air to a shell includes the step of integrated the step of connecting the short air tube and the shell with the step of connecting the shell to the milking liner.

Abstract: A gripping device (10, 10?) for a milking unit (12, 12?) provided with a manifold (14, 62), a pulse tube (16, 64), shells and teat-cups to be connected to the udders of the animal, the gripping device applied to a terminal portion of the pulse tube (16, 64) connected to the manifold (14, 62), said device comprising means for a firm, safe and ergonomic grip and means for a quick replacement and maintenance of the unit or components thereof.

Abstract: A gripping device (10, 10?) for a milking unit (12, 12?) provided with a manifold (14, 62), a pulse tube (16, 64), shells and teat-cups to be connected to the udders of the animal, the gripping device applied to a terminal portion of the pulse tube (16, 64) connected to the manifold (14, 62), said device comprising means for a firm, safe and ergonomic grip and means for a quick replacement and maintenance of the unit or components thereof.

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 combination of a teat cup and a flexible milk tube is shown. The flexible milk tube has a main duct and a plurality of secondary ducts for discharging milk from the teat cup and for applying vacuum in the teat cup. The main duct is confined by a duct wall extending around the main duct. The secondary ducts are included in the duct wall of the main duct. By including the plurality of secondary ducts in the duct wall of the main duct the flexible milk tube as a whole has a smaller cross-section than that of the known milk tube. The plurality of secondary ducts no longer need separate duct walls forming separate tubes either connected or not with the flexible milk tube comprising the main duct. This results in space saving.

Abstract: A milk liner assembly (1) comprises a milk liner (5) seal ably located in an outer shell (3) and defining with the outer shell (3) a pulsating vacuum chamber (23). The milk liner (5) comprises a sleeve (8) and a teat engaging flange (25) which together define a teat receiving cavity (11). A teat accommodating opening (26) through the teat engaging flange (25) accommodates a teat into the teat receiving cavity (11). A strengthening ring (28) integrally formed with the sleeve (8) is located on the sleeve (8) and extends around the sleeve (8) adjacent the teat engaging flange (25) for minimizing excessive radial inward contraction of the sleeve (8), and in turn excessive radial inward contraction of the teat engaging flange (25) onto the teat so that even if the teat engaging flange (25) were to engage the cricoid fold, milk flow through the cricoid fold would not be inhibited by the gripping pressure exerted the teat engaging flange (25) on the cricoid fold.

Abstract: A combination of a teat cup and a flexible milk tube is shown. The flexible milk tube has a main duct and a plurality of secondary ducts for discharging milk from the teat cup and for applying vacuum in the teat cup. The main duct is confined by a duct wall extending around the main duct. The secondary ducts are included in the duct wall of the main duct. By including the plurality of secondary ducts in the duct wall of the main duct the flexible milk tube as a whole has a smaller cross-section than that of the known milk tube. The plurality of secondary ducts no longer need separate duct walls forming separate tubes either connected or not with the flexible milk tube comprising the main duct. This results in space saving.

Abstract: A milking claw for a milking unit is disclosed, wherein the milking claw has a tube section to which two end sections are attached. The longitudinal axis of the tube section runs roughly in the horizontal direction, i.e. roughly in the longitudinal direction of the animal or roughly parallel with the standing base of the animal. This longitudinal axis is in turn arranged essentially parallel with or slightly inclined to a connection axis of a milk outlet connection. Because of this orientation of the milk outlet connection relative to the longitudinal axis of the milking claw, swirl-free feeding and discharge of the milk can be guaranteed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a milking member for an animal. The milking member comprises a claw (1), a plurality of teat cups (3a-d), a plurality of milk conduits (2a-d), which each is connected to the claw (1) at a first end and to a teat cup (3a-d) at a second end, and means, which makes it possible to hold the respective teat cups (3a-d) in a substantially upright positions on a level above the claw (1) when the milking member not is attached to an animal. Said means comprises milk conduits (2a-d), which have a stiffness such that they are able to hold the respective teat cups (3a-d) in said upright positions on a level above the claw (1) when the teat cups (3a-d) not are attached to the teats of an animal.

Abstract: The subject matter of the invention concerns a milking unit comprising a milk-collecting component and at least two milk tubes which are connected to the milk-collecting component.

Abstract: The invention refers to a milking device for milking an animal during a milking operation. A milking member (5) includes at least one teatcup (6) to be attached to a teat of the animal. A long milk conduit (10) extends from the milking member for being connected to a milking machine. A support device (15) comprises a mounting device (16) mounted to a stationary structure (2), and a support arm (17a) in parallel to an arm axis and connected to the mounting device. The milking member is freely movable along the support arm. The milking member is attached to the support arm and displaceable on the support arm. The support arm includes a primary arm element (17a?) connected to the mounting device and a secondary arm element (17a?) holding the milking member. The primary arm element is telescopically introduceable into the secondary arm element, which is displaceable on the primary arm element.

Abstract: A milking claw for a dairy animal has a top having a front pair of first and second inlets laterally spaced on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis and receiving milk from the front pair of teats and directing such milk rearwardly into the claw on laterally opposite sides of the longitudinal axis, and a rear pair of third and fourth inlets laterally spaced on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis and receiving milk from the rear pair of teats and directing such milk forwardly into the claw on laterally opposite sides of the longitudinal axis, along nonintersecting flow paths.

Abstract: A milking claw for a dairy animal has a bottom having an outlet tubular member having a flow passage of a first vertical height, and a nozzle having an opening passing milk therethrough from the claw bottom to the flow passage. The nozzle opening has a second vertical height less than the first vertical height, such that milk level in the claw bottom need only rise to the level of the second lower vertical height of the nozzle opening rather than to the level of the first higher vertical height of the flow passage of the outlet tubular member, to provide a pressure differential between the vacuum in the outlet and the vacuum in the claw, whereby to draw milk from the claw in smaller more frequent slugs as compared to higher volume less frequent slugs while otherwise waiting for milk level in the claw bottom to rise to the level of the first vertical height.

Abstract: An automatic milking plant includes a teat cup connected via a flexible connection hose to a collecting piece for collecting extracted milk and for transmitting a vacuum required for milking. The collecting piece is provided with a connecting piece for the flexible connection hose. The connecting piece and/or the flexible connection hose are implemented such that the flexible connection hose is stiffened in the connection zone of the connecting piece and that the stiffened region of the flexible connection hose extends beyond a milk-carrying area of the connecting piece in the axial direction. An end of a hose sleeve which faces away from the connecting piece is designed asymmetrically in the longitudinal direction, and the hose sleeve encloses the flexible connection hose at least partially in the area of the connecting piece.

Abstract: A short milk tube for providing a conduit between a teat cup assembly and a milker claw that defines a number of ribs that import structural rigidity along a longitudinal axis and in predetermined directions relative to the longitudinal axis to maintain adequate cross-sectional flow area when in the milking position, and a vacuum seal when in the non-milking position.

Abstract: A variable shut off teat cup liner has a mouthpiece, a barrel and a short milk tube adapted for mounting onto milking claw. The short milk tube includes a segment for engagement with an edge of a claw nipple defining an opening, the segment being intended for bending over the opening to substantially close it to passage of vacuum-drawn air therethrough when the teat cup liner is in a non-milking generally downwardly bending position. The segment has circumferentially extending grooves and longitudinally extending grooves which form lugs which provide improved cut resistance. The circumferentially extending grooves have different axial spacing whereby the amount of overlap of the short milk tube over the nipple may be varied to provide the proper amount of bending.

Abstract: A short milk tube for providing a conduit between a teat cup assembly and a milker claw that defines a number of ribs that import structural rigidity along a longitudinal axis and in predetermined directions relative to the longitudinal axis to maintain adequate cross-sectional flow area when in the milking position, and a vacuum seal when in the non-milking position.

Abstract: The invention refers to a device for supporting a milking member in a milking stall (1) and to a milking stall arrangement. The milking member includes a claw (8), a number of teacups (9) connected to the claw, and a long conduit member (11, 12) connecting the claw to a milk-receiving member (7). The stall includes an enclosing structure (2) defining a space (3) for an animal to be milked, and a passage (4) permitting the animal to enter and/or exit the space. The device (15) includes an arm (16), which has a first end portion and a second end portion and is pivotable between an active milking position and a retracted position between milking operations. The arm includes a member (25) for supporting the milking member in the active and inactive positions. A first stop (41, 23) defines the active position of the arm and a second stop (42, 23) defines the inactive position of the arm.

Abstract: A milking claw includes a milk bowl with an interior having an inner bottom surface, an inner top surface and an inner sidewall surface between the inner top and bottom surfaces. Milk inlets are formed in the bowl and open into the interior of the bowl through the inner top surface and are connected to milk hoses leading to the teat cups. A hollow outlet tube is mounted to the bowl with an intake end spaced above and closely adjacent to the inner bottom surface of the bowl. The outlet tube extends upwardly and sidewardly from the intake end within the interior of the bowl, and extends through the inner sidewall surface to an exit end outside of the bowl. The outlet tube is preferably smoothly curved within the interior of the bowl so that milk is drawn out of the bowl with minimal turbulence and reduced vacuum pressure drop.

Abstract: A milking claw having a barrel-type body and a pair of windows for enclosing a chamber therebetween includes a seal which prevents engagement between the windows and the body. The seal is preferably a rubber seal molded to the perimeter of the window. The seal includes a bead for receipt within an annular groove of the body, and a flange extending longitudinally therefrom. The window preferably includes a concave outer surface which is recessed relative to the longitudinally outwardly facing margin of the body. The outer surface of the window also preferably includes a relieved area centered thereon, permitting enhanced gripping of the claw. The relieved area may be provided by either a raised area molded into the window or a depression in the window.

Abstract: A barrel claw of increased volumetric capacity without sacrificing ergonomics has a normally horizontally disposed, elongated hollow body having a generally cylindrical central portion and a pair of tapered, conical end portions on opposite sides of the central portion. Viewing windows at opposite ends of the body permit observation of the internal chamber from outside the body. Inlet openings from the teat cups are provided in the top wall section of the body in the tapered end portions thereof so that the inlets are properly angled toward the teats of the cow's udder during use of the claw. An integrated discharge spout and pulsation manifold unit is removably attached to the top of the body in any one of a number of rotative positions so as to most advantageously position the radially projecting spout of the unit relative to the observation windows and other equipment associated with the milking system.