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:
Aug. 27, 1991
Filed:
Sep. 21, 1989
Edwin Van der Lely, Maasland, NL;
Karel Van den Berg, Bleskensgraaf, NL;
C. van der Lely N.V., Maasland, NL;
Abstract
An implement for the automated milking an animal, such as a cow. The implement comprises a segmented robot arm that can be adjusted to place a working platform in an initial position between the animal's front and rear legs generally below the udder. Mounted on the working platform are teat cups, a reciprocating rotary laser sensor, microprocessor for control, and an electromagnetic coupling device for carrying each teat cup in turn to attachment with a teat. The implement also has a contact sensor and an animal recognition system. Data provided from the contact sensor and animal recognition system provide a template for where the teats should be found. Microprocessor control of the robot arm and platform result in a two phase detection and attachment sequence for sequentially attaching the teat cups to first the rear and then the front teats.