A space divider (4) of a milking parlor arrangement for at least one milking parlor (3) for milking milk-producing animals (T), wherein the space divider (4) is arranged approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis of the animal (T) to be milked, has an arm device (6) having a milking cluster (5, 5′), which can be adjusted from a parking position to a working position and back. The arm device (6) is arranged with the milking cluster (5) in the parking position in the space divider (4), wherein the milking cluster (5, 5′) can be adjusted into the working position laterally to the animal (T) to be milked between the front and rear legs thereof. The milking cluster (5, 5′) comprises two halves, wherein each half has a specific set of at least one teatcup (5a). The space divider (4) is designed in such a way that no additional space is required between adjacent animals (T), so that many animals (T) can be milked in a milking parlor arrangement (1, 1′, 1″) while the smallest possible amount of space is required. A milking parlor arrangement (1, 1′, 1″) has at least one external robot (12).

A support arm assembly for milking equipment is disclosed which includes a pivotable support arm and a stationary arm suspension configured to support the pivotable support arm. The pivotable support arm includes an elongated arm member configured to support a milking cluster of the milking equipment at a distal end portion thereof. The elongated arm member is pivotable in a first direction and an opposite second direction in a substantially horizontal plane. The support arm assembly also includes a holding device configured to maintain the elongated arm member in a first pivotal position when the elongated arm member is subjected to a pivotal force smaller than a threshold force. Further a milking parlour is disclosed.

A support arm assembly for milking equipment is disclosed which includes a pivotable support arm and a stationary arm suspension configured to support the pivotable support arm. The pivotable support arm includes an elongated arm member configured to support a milking cluster of the milking equipment at a distal end portion thereof. The elongated arm member is pivotable in a first direction and an opposite second direction in a substantially horizontal plane. The support arm assembly also includes a holding device configured to maintain the elongated arm member in a first pivotal position when the elongated arm member is subjected to a pivotal force smaller than a threshold force. Further a milking parlour is disclosed.

A control and monitoring system for a rotating animal platform which includes multiple animal stalls arranged about its periphery, where the system includes an interactive display screen which displays output information relating to the current status of operations on the platform and which displays input channels for use by an operator, the platform itself is represented at said interactive display screen by an annular shape, each stall on the platform is graphically represented by a cell, the cells are displayed in a spatial arrangement corresponding to the arrangement of stalls on the platform, real-time status information relating to operations on the platform is represented at each cell, and the rotating movement of the platform is represented by the progression of each cell about the displayed representation of the platform.

A control and monitoring system for a rotating animal platform which includes multiple animal stalls arranged about its periphery, where the system includes an interactive display screen which displays output information relating to the current status of operations on the platform and which displays input channels for use by an operator, the platform itself is represented at said interactive display screen by an annular shape, each stall on the platform is graphically represented by a cell, the cells are displayed in a spatial arrangement corresponding to the arrangement of stalls on the platform, real-time status information relating to operations on the platform is represented at each cell, and the rotating movement of the platform is represented by the progression of each cell about the displayed representation of the platform.

Automatic teat treatment method and apparatus for treatment operations on teats of an animal using a robot apparatus. The method includes initiating automatic detection of spatial teat positions and registering the spatial positions of the detected teats; and deriving a dedicated treating action effective to move the treating device through a dedicated path defined by the registered spatial teat positions and carrying out treatment by moving the treating device through the dedicated path. When not all of the spatial positions are detected, then the method registers the spatial position of each detected teat and derives an adapted treating action effective to move the treating device through an adapted path defined by the registered spatial teat positions and by approximated spatial locations. When no teat spatial positions have been detected, the method derives a default treating action effective to move the treating device through a default treating path.

A system including a 3D camera, memory, and a processor. The processor is configured to obtain the 3D image, identify one or more regions within the 3D image comprising depth values greater than a depth value threshold, and apply the thigh gap detection rule set to identify a thigh gap region. The processor is further configured to demarcate an access region within the thigh gap region, demarcate a teat detection region, partition the 3D image within the teat detection region to generate a plurality of image depth planes, and examine each of the plurality of image depth planes. The processor is further configured to identify one or more teat candidates within the image depth plane, apply the teat detection rule set to the one or more teat candidates to identify one or more teats, and determine position information for the one or more teats.

A system including a 3D camera, memory, and a processor. The processor is configured to obtain the 3D image, identify one or more regions within the 3D image comprising depth values greater than a depth value threshold, and apply the thigh gap detection rule set to identify a thigh gap region. The processor is further configured to demarcate an access region within the thigh gap region, demarcate a teat detection region, partition the 3D image within the teat detection region to generate a plurality of image depth planes, and examine each of the plurality of image depth planes. The processor is further configured to identify one or more teat candidates within the image depth plane, apply the teat detection rule set to the one or more teat candidates to identify one or more teats, and determine position information for the one or more teats.

A milking robot system for milking of a dairy animal with teats includes milking cups, a robot arm for attaching the milking cups to the teats, a teat detector configured to detect the position of the teats, and a compressed air system for providing dry compressed air to at least part of the milking robot system. The teat detector comprises a housing containing an optical sensor. The compressed air system is operatively connectable with the inside of the housing via an air line in order to at least partly replace air which is present in the housing by an amount of dry air from the compressed air system. This replacement operation may be performed directly, under pressure, or by first extracting air by means of an additional system and then replenishing it with dry air from the compressed air system.

A method for performing teat related operations in a rotary milking system during an operation condition when a capacity required for performing the operations with respect to the teats of the milking animals is higher than a robot's capacity, includes estimating a required capacity for performing the operations; planning a semi-automated teat related operation procedure based on the robot's capacity and the estimated required capacity, according to which procedure a first fraction of the operations with respect to the teats of the milking animals should be performed automatically by the robot in a first zone, and a second fraction of the operations with respect to the teats of the milking animals should be performed manually in a second zone adjacent to the first zone; and performing the operations with respect to the teats of the milking animals according to the planned semi-automated teat related operation procedure.