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:
May. 04, 2004
Filed:
Oct. 04, 2002
Applicant:
Inventors:
James A. Ealy, Greenback, TN (US);
Benjamin L. Carpenter, Knoxville, TN (US);
Troy E. Chambers, Lenoir City, TN (US);
Assignee:
Innovative Automation, Inc., Greenback, TN (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
A01J 5/003 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
A01J 5/003 ;
Abstract
A method and apparatus for the automated milking of dairy cattle employing live capture of the teats of a dairy cow without requiring identification of a particular dairy cow or the prior knowledge of the location of the individual teats. The live capture milking apparatus locates the individual teats of a dairy cow and attaches a teatcup to the teat without the need for human intervention. After the milking operation is completed, the live capture milking apparatus returns to a home position where cleaning and sanitization the milking equipment occurs.