Delaval Holding Ab

Sten Mellberg

Mats Gudmundsson

Henrik Olander

Mikael Källman

Dorota Anglart

A method and device for spraying dairy animals and in particular for spraying an udder region of dairy animals, including cows, during an at least partly or fully automatic milking process, includes providing a spray device mounted on a robot arm, the spray device including a spray nozzle with a spray opening, and a fluid channel feeding spray solution from an input port to the spray opening; pumping spray solution through the fluid channel towards the spray opening; heating the spray solution in a heating region of the fluid channel; and spraying the heated spray solution through the spray opening towards the udder region of the dairy animal.

Method and device for spraying dairy animals

A combined teat position and breeding rating determining arrangement for a milking system having a milking stall, a movable robot arm for automatically attaching teat cups to the teats of the milking animal, and a control device for controlling the movement of the robot arm based on determined positions of the teats of the milking animal. The arrangement includes a three-dimensional camera directed towards the udder of the milking animal that repeatedly records three-dimensional images of the udder, and a processing unit that repeatedly detects the udder or teats of the milking animal, determines their positions based on the recorded three-dimensional images, automatically determines the shapes of the udder or teats based on the repeatedly recorded three-dimensional images, and automatically calculates a breeding rating based on the determined shapes of the udder or teats of the milking animal.

Arrangement and method for a milking system

A milk sampling apparatus for use with a processor controlled milking system. The apparatus may include a cassette wherein milk sample collecting elements are placed, and at least one filling member capable of being placed above a selected one of the milk sample collecting elements by a positioning system, and capable of bringing a milk sample, representatively taken from milk yielded during the milking of an animal by the processor controlled milking system, into the selected one of the milk sample collecting elements. The apparatus may further include a micro processor arranged for two-way communication with the processor controlled milking system. The micro processor may be capable of receiving an indication of the selected one of the milk sample collecting elements from the processor controlled milking system and of controlling the positioning system to move the filling member such that the processor controlled milking system is positioned above the selected one of the milk sample collecting elements dependent on receiving such a signal.

Milk sampling apparatus and method

A milk sampling apparatus for use with an automated milking system. The apparatus may include a cassette wherein milk sample collecting elements may be placed, and at least one filling member capable of being placed above a selected one of the milk sample collecting elements by a positioning system, and capable of bringing a milk sample, representatively taken from milk yielded during the milking of an animal by the automated milking system, in the selected one of the milk sample collecting elements. Further, the milk sampling apparatus may include an agitating device, such as a shaking table, for agitating the milk sample.

Example embodiments of the present invention refer to a milk sampling apparatus and method for use with an automated milking system. The apparatus comprises a cassette () wherein milk sample collecting elements () are placed, and at least one filling member () capable of being placed above a selected one of the milk sample collecting elements () by a positioning system, and capable of bringing a milk sample, representatively taken from milk yielded during the milking of an animal by the automated milking system, into the selected one of the milk sample collecting elements (). The positioning system comprises an arm () extending in a first dimension (Y) in a plane (XY) above the milk sample collecting elements () and being movable in a second direction (X) in the plane (XY), the first (Y) and second (X) directions being orthogonal; a runner () holding the filling member () and being movable along the arm (); and first () and a second () drives, wherein the first drive () is effective to move the arm () and the second drive () is effective to move the runner () such that filling member () is positioned above the selected one of the milk sample collecting elements ().

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Stockholm, Sweden

Sten Mellberg