The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 21, 1989
Filed:
Jan. 15, 1987
Ary van der Lely, Maasland, NL;
Cornelis J Bom, Rozenburg, NL;
Cornelis van der Lely, N.V., Maasland, NL;
Abstract
A mechanism that automatically attaches teat cups to a cow's teats including four telescopically extensible members which each carry a teat cup via a teat cup support which resiliently supports its corresponding teat cup in an upright position. Each extensible member has its own stepper motor to raise and lower the corresponding teat cup and a further stepper motor to move the extensible member horizontally within limits. An ultra-sonic radiation member is carried on a platform between the teat cups as seen in plan which emits a horizontal ultra-sonic beam that is reflected and focused upwardly and caused by movement of the reflector systematically to scan the cow's udder and to locate the teats by their comparatively shorter distances from the reflector. The disposition of the teats is thus sensed by a sensor unit which controls a stepper motors and causes the extensible members independently to raise the teat cups to be received by and attached to corresponding teats for the milking operation.