A milking liner for an automated milking machine includes a barrel that moves between an uncollapsed position and a collapsed condition when it is subjected to a vacuum milking condition. The barrel defines at least three parallel channels open to the inner surface of the barrel. The configuration of the sidewall of the barrel and the channels cause the barrel to uniformly collapse when the barrel is subjected to a vacuum milking condition. In one configuration, ribs protrude from the barrel sid...

A milking liner for use with a milking machine has a tubular shape with a tapered reduced diameter teat receiving end portion. One embodiment of the invention has a tapered, reduced diameter teat receiving end portion in which the wall thickness steadily decreases as the diameter decreases.

An improvement in milking inflations having a teat-receiving collar wherein the inner periphery of the collar is of generally uniform thickness and the projection of the periphery onto a plane passed perpendicularly to the major axis of the body portion of the inflation has a generally circular configuration with a perimeter of finite length, i.e., the projection is substantially circular. The inner periphery of the collar is formed of a series of contiguous wave forms. If the aforementioned pla...

An inflation for a teat cup assembly which reduces the capacity of the inflation to twist radially during the installation process. The inflation has an elongated flexible portion adapted to receive the teat of an animal to be milked and comprises a first end formed with an opening into the interior of said elongated portion which is adapted to receive said teat and which sealingly engages a first open end of a hollow elongated teat cup upon vacuum being applied to the inside of said cup; a midd...

A milking installation comprises a compressed air system with a compressed air line, a pneumatically controllable cylinder and a compressed air pump for supplying compressed air for the cylinder. The compressed air system comprises a dew point sensor for measuring the dew point of the compressed air and for emitting a dew point signal that is representative of the dew point. The milking installation may comprise or form part of a milking robot for automatically connecting teat cups to the teats ...

A milking apparatus comprises sets of electrodes for detecting milk flows sucked by individual teat cups capped on individual teats, tubes connected to pressure chambers of the respective teat cups, change-over valves operative to supply atmospheric pressure and vacuum periodically and alternately to the tubes, counters for counting times for non-detection of the milk flows by the sets of electrodes, and controller for actuating the change-over valves to supply only atmospheric pressure to the t...

A milking plant for cows is provided with a milking machine comprising teat cups, which are connected separately to the teats of an animal. The milk obtained from each udder quarter is conveyed through a separate line to a milk measuring device. The milk measuring device includes four milk meters, one for each teat cup, having separate discharge lines coupled to common discharge lines which connect with a circulation line or loop that includes a bulk milk cooling tank, a two-speed or variable sp...

The milking tube section of a milking inflation has an elongated stem portion including a pair of circumferentially extending, axially spaced grooves in the outer surface near the lower end of the teat cup shell. A first groove is located adjacent a thicker part or externally supported part of the stem section and is arranged to permit substantial angular bending of the teat cup assembly relative to the stem portion for attachment to a cow's teat without substantial crimping which causes a reduc...

A method of milking is disclosed for a double action milking system having teat cups which alternate time periods of release and squeeze of the teat to allow milk to flow and to provide for rest respectively. Milking is initiated at one ratio of milk period to rest period and then increased to a selected higher ratio. Milking is then done at the selected higher ratio for a selected segment of time or until the milk flow rate falls below a predetermined value, after which the ratio is decreased s...

Apparatus for removing teat cups from milking animals wherein teat cup removing means are operated in response to milk flow detecting means which comprises a flow control means separate and apart from the teat cups, and a flow rate sensing means operable with said flow control means to sense a falling of the milk below a predetermined quantity. Means are actuated in response to the sensing means for closing a flexible milk line and to thereafter apply tension to such milk line to remove the teat...