An arrangement for the automatic application of milking apparatus to a milk animal including a milking apparatus store, a milking apparatus handling device including a milking apparatus carrier movable on the device and a teat sensor on the handling device together with at least one animal position sensor and a control unit responsive to the animal and teat sensors to operate the handling device, the arrangement being such that when an animal is sensed to be in milking position the control unit ...

A milking apparatus is disclosed for automatically providing the appropriate amount of vacuum for purposes of milking a cow throughout the entire milking operation. The milking apparatus includes a fluid control valve system having a controller unit and a discharge valve in fluid communication with a collection jar. The controller unit is further adapted for communication with a source of vacuum, and the collection jar is adapted to be in communication with the cow such that the vacuum can draw ...

The invention refers to a milking device and a method of handling a milking device. The milking device includes a milk-transporting member (1) having at least one teatcup (2) and arranged to transport milk from a teat of an animal to a milk-collecting member (4) during a milking state. A low pressure is connected to the milk-transporting member (1) for sucking the milk from the teat to the milk collecting member. A gas conduit (11) permits the introduction of a gas into the milk-transporting mem...

A milking apparatus comprising a circulation line in a milk circuit which includes a bulk milk tank, and a pump for circulating milk around the circuit including through the tank and through the circulation line. There are one or more milking compartments for automatically milking animals, such as cows, which are connected to the circulation line by supply lines. A milk filter can be incorporated in a circulation line or in a supply line or both. In one embodiment the milk filter is automaticall...

A milking plant comprises a stall adapted to house one animal at a time for milking of the animal and a device for automatic milking of the animal in the stall. According to the invention the automatic milking device comprises a first milking unit with teatcups and a second milking unit with teatcups and an attachment means adapted to attach the teatcups of either the first or the second milking unit onto the animal's teats. During milking, the milking unit which is not used for milking may be c...

An improved milking station is disclosed including an improved sensor for indicating premature teat cup disengagement, an improved shut-off valve mechanism, and a teat cup retraction assembly. In the outflow line of milk from the teat cup assembly, a plug with a magnet therein is gravitationally biased between the limit of travel bars. Assuming normal milk exhaustion from a cow's udder, the magnet falls to a lower position for a predetermined period of time (in the order of 4-6 seconds) and actu...

A milking system for cows which includes an intermittently substantially annular platform onto which cows may walk over an outer periphery into a milking station and from which a cow may depart by a descending chute over an inner periphery of said platform. The platform is intermittently rotated in use by a novel rope drive with automatic movements occuring after a preselected period which allows at least a minimum period of time for a cow to enter onto or depart from the platform. Automatic mea...

Pressure controlled milk termination means wherein the top of a diaphragm is connected with the milk line by a vacuum communication conduit and the bottom of the diaphragm with the air line, but the bottom of the diaphragm having an air bleed aperture leading thereinto so that there is a constant differential of pressure acting on the diaphragm and of sufficient magnitude to bias the diaphragm upwardly. The diaphragm has coupled to it a valve member which is effective in closing the air bleed ap...

A milking cup having a sleeve-like cup and a rubber teat holder inserted therein. The rubber teat holder has a suction sleeve portion which is connected at the lower end to a milk discharge pipe connected to a vacuum source. An underpressure relief valve is provided on the milking cup. A tube is connected to and extends between the underpressure relief valve and either the suction sleeve or a member which is connected to and is positioned between the lower end of the suction sleeve and the milk ...

A hollow tube is extended into each teat of a cow's udder and retained substantially permanently therein, thereby maintaining open the teat passageway normally closed by the sphincter muscle. The end of the tube projecting from the teat is provided with an enlarged, hollow valve body containing a normally closed valve. A milk collecting tube is connected at one end to a hollow valve coupler adapted to be connected removably to the valve body, the coupler containing a valve operator which, upon i...