This invention is related to a double grab, its rinsing cup and milking machine provided therewith, and the method for automatically applying teat cups to the teats of an udder of an animal to be milked. The double grab, according to the invention, includes: a first housing part provided with a first magnet designed to hold a first teat cup; a second housing part, installed substantially in a horizontal plane next to the first housing part, provided with a second magnet designed to hold a second teat cup whereby each housing part is provided with separate pivoting means that can be activated and is designed to make the related housing part pivot around a pivoting axis which in use, extends substantially in a horizontal direction, substantially in a widthwise direction of the arm.

Milking clusters for a miling installation have four teat cups, each teat cup having a cup housing and a teat cup liner with a top region and a suction region. A connection for a milk tube is arranged at the cup bottom or at the end of the suction region of the teat cup liner. A mouth portion of a sterile air pressure line is arranged in the top region of the teat cup liner, through which pressure line sterile air is introduced at a volumetric flow rate greater than a fluid aspiration volumetric flow rate at the milk tube, such that a sterile air blanket is established in the top region of the teat cup liner. The milking clusters with the cup liner and sterile air blanket prevent milked milk from being contaminated by contaminants and microorganisms from the shed air, extending storage life for untreated raw milk.

Disclosed is a system for treating dairy livestock having fore legs and hind legs, wherein the system comprises a parallel milking parlor ramp, livestock stalls positioned along at least part of the parallel milking parlor ramp, wherein each stall is configured to contain one dairy livestock, at least one vertical upright teat cup holder comprising teat cups and a mobile unit. The mobile unit comprises equipment for treating livestock and a processor, where the mobile unit is configured to travel between the fore legs and hind legs of the dairy livestock on the parallel milking parlor ramp and use the equipment to perform at least one action related to a treatment of the dairy livestock. Also disclosed is that the equipment includes an arm configured to withdraw the teat cups from the vertical upright teat cup holder and connect them to the dairy livestock.

Disclosed is a system for treating dairy livestock having fore legs and hind legs, wherein the system comprises a parallel milking parlor ramp, livestock stalls positioned along at least part of the parallel milking parlor ramp, wherein each stall is configured to contain one dairy livestock, at least one vertical upright teat cup holder comprising teat cups and a mobile unit. The mobile unit comprises equipment for treating livestock and a processor, where the mobile unit is configured to travel between the fore legs and hind legs of the dairy livestock on the parallel milking parlor ramp and use the equipment to perform at least one action related to a treatment of the dairy livestock. Also disclosed is that the equipment includes an arm configured to withdraw the teat cups from the vertical upright teat cup holder and connect them to the dairy livestock.

In certain embodiments, a system includes a three-dimensional camera and a processor communicatively coupled to the three-dimensional camera. The processor is operable to determine a first hind location of a first hind leg of a dairy livestock based at least in part on visual data captured by the three-dimensional camera and determine a second hind location of a second hind leg of the dairy livestock based at least in part on the visual data. The processor is further operable to determine a measurement, wherein the measurement is the distance between the first hind location and the second hind location. Additionally, the processor is operable to determine whether the measurement exceeds a minimum threshold.

In certain embodiments, a system includes a three-dimensional camera and a processor communicatively coupled to the three-dimensional camera. The processor is operable to determine a first hind location of a first hind leg of a dairy livestock based at least in part on visual data captured by the three-dimensional camera and determine a second hind location of a second hind leg of the dairy livestock based at least in part on the visual data. The processor is further operable to determine a measurement, wherein the measurement is the distance between the first hind location and the second hind location. Additionally, the processor is operable to determine whether the measurement exceeds a minimum threshold.

An apparatus includes a carriage, camera, spray tool, and controller. The carriage is movably coupled to a track. The camera and spray tool are coupled to the carriage. The controller moves the carriage along the track away from a starting position based on a first signal from the camera, and as the carriage moves away from the starting position, discharges, through the spray tool, a solution for a first time. The controller moves the carriage towards the starting position after the solution has been discharged for the first time, and based on a second signal from the camera as the carriage moves towards the starting position and before the carriage reaches the starting position, moves the carriage away from the starting position. As the carriage moves away from the starting position, the controller discharges, through the spray tool, the solution for a second time.

An apparatus includes a carriage, camera, spray tool, and controller. The carriage is movably coupled to a track. The camera and spray tool are coupled to the carriage. The controller moves the carriage along the track away from a starting position based on a first signal from the camera, and as the carriage moves away from the starting position, discharges, through the spray tool, a solution for a first time. The controller moves the carriage towards the starting position after the solution has been discharged for the first time, and based on a second signal from the camera as the carriage moves towards the starting position and before the carriage reaches the starting position, moves the carriage away from the starting position. As the carriage moves away from the starting position, the controller discharges, through the spray tool, the solution for a second time.

A system for cleaning a dairy animal milker unit and applying dip to a dairy animal, the system includes a main control, an air supply, a water supply, a backflush fluid supply, a dip supply, a stall control for receiving the air, water, backflush fluid and dip supplies, and a safety valve that is adjacent to a downstream portion of the milker unit to control backflush and dip fluids being fed to the milker unit.

A system for cleaning a dairy animal milker unit and applying dip to a dairy animal, the system includes a main control, an air supply, a water supply, a backflush fluid supply, a dip supply, a stall control for receiving the air, water, backflush fluid and dip supplies, and a safety valve that is adjacent to a downstream portion of the milker unit to control backflush and dip fluids being fed to the milker unit.