Abstract: There is provided a milking cluster (102) for milking an animal, the milking cluster comprising a plurality of teat cups (1) connected to a clawpiece (106). The clawpiece comprises a plurality of milk inlets that are connected to the plurality of teat cups via respective short milk tubes (11). A milk flow passageway begins at the barrel of the teat cup and ends at the clawbowl of the clawpiece, and a valve system is present within each milk flow passageway. The valve system comprises a first pressure-actuated valve through which milk flowing along the milk flow passageway must pass.

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: The invention relates to a milk collecting piece comprising a housing upper part with at least two intake nozzles and a housing lower part with at least two chambers which are each flow-connected to an outtake nozzle via an outlet.

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 milker unit liner dome having an inner surface and flow diverters joined to the inner surface to redirect teat dip from an inlet to provide more uniform coverage of dip on a teat. The liner dome can also include more than one flow diverter for redirecting teat dip flow.

Abstract: An apparatus for recognizing and determining the position of at least one teat of a milking animal includes a scanning head comprising a light source and a camera. The light source emits light into a region which is expected to contain a teat or teats and the camera captures images formed by the light. In a first scanning mode, the scanning head is moved from a low initial position upwards in a circular coil until the position of at least a first teat has been established. Thereafter, in a second scanning mode, the scanning head is moved upwards in a to circular coil until the positions of all teats have been established, or a predetermined time limit has elapsed during the scanning procedure. The coil traversed during the first scanning mode is wider than the coil traversed during the second scanning mode.

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: A method and system for controlling the cooling of small milk quantities in a cooling tank (2) having a bottom wall portion (12) with a milk cooling surface (12′) within the tank being part of a cooling circuit an agitator (19) within the tank for stirring the milk therein. The gist of the invention is a) providing an element for measuring the milk quantity in the tank, and a temperature transducer (11) for monitoring the milk temperature in the tank, b) providing, in the cooling circuit, an evaporator (4) connected to the bottom wall portion of the tank, a compressor (5), and a condenser (7), c) controlling the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator by regulating the vaporizing pressure, so that the temperature of the milk cooling surface (12′) is always higher than 0° C. when the compressor (5) is running, d) monitoring the milk quantity in the tank, and, when sufficient/insufficient for the agitator to work properly.

Abstract: The application discloses a device for a container which includes a casing (1) which defines an inner space (2), which extends from the inner space and is connectable to a vacuum source in order to reduce the pressure in the inner space and the outlet space to be lower than the pressure of a surrounding space. The device includes a valve arrangement (8) with a valve seat (9), which forms a first passage (6) between the inner space and the outlet space, a valve element (10), which is abuttable against the valve seat for closing the first passage in the first position and is displaceable from the valve seat for opening the passage, and a spindle portion (11) which is connected to the valve element and extends through the valve seat, the outlet space and a second passage (12) through the casing. Means (18, 19) are arranged to form a flow passage, which in the first position of the valve arrangement permits a flow from the surrounding space to the inner space.

Abstract: A header for milking units comprising: a bell (15) for the collection of the milk closed by an upper wall (4); milked milk arrival ducts (9) with associated peripheral mouths (8) located on the upper wall (4); a discharge duct (17) fixed to the bell (15) and a flow adjuster (1) that accumulates the individual milk flows into a single and uniform circumferential flow that regularly discharge towards the discharge duct (17). The flow adjuster (1) comprises an upside-down mushroom-profiled body (2) provided with a device (3) for fastening to the header, and comprising a circular upper edge (7) and a dished bottom (12) connected to the upper edge (7); the circular upper edge (7) having a diameter smaller than the internal diameter of bell (15) and such as to align with mouths (8) of milk arrival ducts (9) and to form, with its external surface, one only continuous annular passage (14) with the internal surface of the bell.