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:
Mar. 28, 2000
Filed:
Mar. 04, 1998
Karel van den Berg, BR Bleskensgraaf, NL;
Rene Fransen, ZD Vlaardingen, NL;
Maasland N.V., , NL;
Abstract
An apparatus and method for automatically milking animals which include a milking compartment or compartments which have a milking unit comprising an automatic milking machine secured to a robot arm which extends from under the teats of the animal being milked to outside of the milking compartment. The robot arm outside the milking compartment is supported by a sidewardly pivotal portion which includes a piston and cylinder member for raising and lowering the milking unit and a further piston and cylinder movement for pivoting sidewardly a carrier included in the portion. A rail is disposed over the milking compartment either centrally or to one side, or if there is more than one milking compartment which are disposed side-by-side, then the rail extends longitudinally between the milking compartments. The carrier together with the piston and cylinder member and the piston and cylinder unit and the milking unit are movable via a motor and roller longitudinally along the rail, by the piston and cylinder member vertically, and by a piston and cylinder unit sidewardly so that the milking machine can be selectively disposed under the animal's teats for automatic connection of teat cups thereto or can be moved to the side so that the milking machine does not impede the animal from entering and exiting the milking compartment.