Technologies Holdings Corporation

Dec International, Inc.

Bou-matic Technologies Corporation

Gary C Steingraber

Peter Willem Van Der Sluis

Henk Hofman

Cor De Ruijter

Menno Koekoek

Paul D Thompson

William S Nelson

Parimal G Rajkondawar

Roger K Erdman

David A Johnson

David A Reid

Terrence J Mullen

Nicholas Schultz

George H Tucker, Jr

Timothy E Blair

James F McCain

Dennis E Dynneson

Leon Cramer

George H Tucker

Nicholas E Schultz

A system comprises a memory and a processor. The memory stores information about a milking stall where a dairy livestock is located at a first time, and a coordinate location of the dairy livestock at a second time. The processor is communicatively coupled to the memory and determines if the coordinate location of the dairy livestock at the second time is different than the milking stall where the dairy livestock is located at the first time. If the coordinate location where the dairy livestock is located at the second time is not the milking stall, the processor generates an error flag associated with the dairy livestock.

System and method for milking stall assignment using real-time location

A milking system includes a rotary milking platform having a plurality of milking stalls and a plurality of milking devices, each milking device configured for attachment to the teats of a dairy livestock located in a corresponding milking stall of the rotary milking platform. The system further includes one or more robotic devices operable to perform one or more functions, including preparing the teats of a dairy livestock for the attachment of a milking apparatus, attaching a milking apparatus to the teats of a dairy livestock, and applying a sanitizing agent to the teats of a dairy livestock subsequent to the removal of a milking apparatus from the teats of the dairy livestock. Each of the one or more functions performed by the one or more robotic devices is performed during a period of time when the rotary milking platform is substantially stationary.

Automated rotary milking system

In certain embodiments, a method for milking stall assignment includes storing first location information associated with a dairy livestock, the first location information comprising a coordinate location of the dairy livestock within a milking parlor at a first time. The method further includes comparing the stored first location information associated with the dairy livestock with an area associated with each of a plurality of milking stalls of the milking parlor to identify a milking stall in which the dairy cow is located at the first time and assigning the dairy livestock to the milking stall in which the dairy cow is located at the first time such that data associated with milking of the dairy livestock may be associated with the dairy cow.

A pulsator comprises a valve chamber and an armature arranged in the valve chamber. An electrically powered coil at least partially surrounds the valve chamber and generates a magnetic flux. A magnetic pole piece is arranged in the valve chamber and has a metal surface. The armature has a first end nearest the magnetic pole piece and a second end. The first end of the armature has a metal surface and the second end has a first sealing surface and a second sealing surface.

Pulsator apparatus and method of operation

An adaptive milking system comprises a milk meter, a controller, and a detacher. The milk meter measures a flow rate of milking an animal during a first period of time, and continues to monitor the flow rate of milking the animal. The controller is communicatively coupled to the milk meter and calculates a percentage of the measured flow rate. The controller triggers a delay timer when the monitored flow rate of milking the animal becomes lower than the larger of (a) a default threshold flow rate and (b) the calculated percentage of the measured flow rate. The detacher is communicatively coupled to the controller and removes a milking unit from the animal when the delay timer reaches a threshold time.

System and method for implementing an adaptive milking process

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.

Milking claw top

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.

Milking claw bottom

A top unloading milking claw (10) includes a high-impact transparent plastic lower bowl (12) and a stainless steel upper top (14). The claw has a plurality of deflectors (50, 52, 54, 56) on the inner surface (48) of the lower bowl (12) and spaced radially outwardly of the vertical riser outlet tube (28) by an annular gap (58) therebetween. The deflectors (50, 52, 54, 56) reduce tangential velocity of milk flow along the inner surface (48) of the bowl (12) by intercepting such tangential milk flow and redirecting the intercepted milk flow inwardly and downwardly along the inner surface (48) toward the bottom of the bowl (12) to fill the space (38) between the lower end (36) of the outlet tube (28) and the bottom of the bowl (12), to maximize the air pressure differential across the surface of the milk, between the ambient air pressure within the claw and the vacuum within the outlet tube, to maximize milk flow capacity of the claw ( 10). An acceleration surface (94) having a bell-shaped curve extends from the bottom of the bowl (12) upwardly into the outlet tube (28) and provides uniform acceleration of the milk as it enters the outlet tube (28), to minimize shear stress and energy loss as the milk is directed to flow upwardly through the outlet tube (28).

Top unloaded milking claw

A flexible formed pre-curved milk tube (50) extends outwardly from a milking claw inlet (26) and naturally curves upwardly to a teat cup (20), minimizing stress otherwise occurring in a straight milking tube (40), such that the pre-curved tube (50) maintains increased clearance (52) between the pre-curved tube and the claw inlet opening (44) to maximize the inner cross sectional area of the tube and create less restriction to flow as compared to the reduced clearance (46) caused by stressing a straight tube (40) to a curved connected condition. Rotation of the pre-curved tube (50) from the unstressed position to a downward non-milking position provides a greater range of motion than a straight tube (40), which greater range of motion provides a better shut-off seal.

Pre-curved milk tube

A new teat cup inflation comprises a flexible tubular member having upper and lower barrels and a mouthpiece chamber. The walls of the upper and lower barrels are formed as continuous bands of alternating internal and external flutes. The lower end of the lower barrel is formed with an external projection that is received in a groove in a teat cup shell. The wall of the inflation upper barrel diverges from the lower barrel toward the mouthpiece chamber. The wall of a portion of the mouthpiece chamber is fluted on the interior and has a frusto-conical surface on the exterior. The mouthpiece chamber further has a band portion that receives a retaining ring for assembling the inflation in the teat cup without tools and without stressing the inflation mouthpiece after assembly. The new inflation provides better control for teat penetration for improved milkout.

Teat cup inflation

The valve comprises a housing connected to the outlet of a teat cup assembly. The housing includes a nipple formed in the bottom portion thereof for connection to a milk suction line. A ball member is mounted inside the valve housing and adapted to seat at the opening from the housing into the nipple when the interior of the housing is exposed to atmospheric pressure. The valve further includes a plunger slidably mounted in the wall of the valve housing, and the plunger is adapted to slide inwardly into the valve housing when the pressure in the housing falls below atmospheric pressure. The inward movement of the plunger is adapted to dislodge the ball member from its seated position at the nipple opening. The plunger member has an elastomeric washer mounted thereon which seals against the housing when the plunger slides inwardly. The washer has a locking ear thereon which engages a projection on the housing to lock the plunger in its retracted position during cleaning.

Growing community of inventors

Madison, WI, United States of America

Gary C Steingraber