Keywords
Citation
(2003), "Milking animals", Industrial Robot, Vol. 30 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2003.04930ead.009
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2003, MCB UP Limited
Milking animals
Milking animals
Keywords: Patents, Robots
Applicant: Maasland N.V., NetherlandsPatent number: US6,205,949Publication date: 27 March 2001Title: Method of Milking Animals
An apparatus and a method of milking animals, in particular goats, is presented where the animals are arranged side by side in two rows of milking compartments in a milking parlour.
The invention comprises a robot arm that is moved along the rear of the animals in the milking compartments. Teat cups are provided behind each of the milking compartments and are retained in holders by a tension mechanism. The robot arm can move via rollers along a pair of rails positioned behind each row of milking compartments. Each robot arm comprises an acquiring mechanism for individually grasping the teat cups and moving them forward and aft, pivoting them about a vertical pivot axis, and raising and lowering them. Each acquiring mechanism includes a sensor, positioned between the hind legs of an animal, to locate the animal's teats and providing guidance for connecting the teat cups to the animal's teats. The forward aspect of each milking compartment has a partition that is movable and functions as an exit from the milking compartment.