An automatic teat treatment method and apparatus uses a control system and an associated robot apparatus with an arm that carries a treatment apparatus, to establish a treatment operation start time and establish the presence of an animal at a treatment location, and then (i) initiate detection of a spatial teat position of a first teat, (ii) register the spatial position, (iii) derive a dedicated teat-treating action, (iv) carry out the teat-treating action, and (v) successively repeat the initiating, registering, deriving, and treating steps once in respect of each teat until all teats are treated, where, when after the start time, a predefined point in time is passed before any of the preceding steps is completed, the method is interrupted and a default treating action for treating all remaining untreated teats is derived and carried out by the treatment apparatus and thereafter the robot arm is retracted.

An automatic cleaning system for teats is designed to apply at least two different process fluids to the teats so that, in advantageous embodiments, a cleaning treatment can be performed in an automated manner before and after the milking process.

An automatic cleaning system for teats is designed to apply at least two different process fluids to the teats so that, in advantageous embodiments, a cleaning treatment can be performed in an automated manner before and after the milking process.

The present invention provides a teat treatment device, as well as an automatic milking device, a method and a teat cup therefor. The present invention cleans or otherwise treats a teat by repeatedly placing a teat cup on the teat and removing it therefrom again, wherein the upper side thereof, in particular segments with projections on the inner side, around the teat-receiving opening scrub the teat clean under frictional contact. Nozzles which can spray a jet of liquid on, in particular, the projections in the inactive position, can assist this treatment.

The present invention provides a teat treatment device, as well as an automatic milking device, a method and a teat cup therefor. The present invention cleans or otherwise treats a teat by repeatedly placing a teat cup on the teat and removing it therefrom again, wherein the upper side thereof, in particular segments with projections on the inner side, around the teat-receiving opening scrub the teat clean under frictional contact. Nozzles which can spray a jet of liquid on, in particular, the projections in the inactive position, can assist this treatment.

An automatic animal processing device for automatically retrieving a domestic animal partly from a stall to process the animal while restraining the animal. The animal processing device includes an animal controlling mechanism operative to engage, position and restrain the animal for processing. The animal controlling mechanism may include at least on articulated arm to constrain and immobilize an animal to process it, e.g. milk it. The animal processing device may be a milking machine may be a milking machine having a milking head assembly and a cleaning system therefor whereby the milking head assembly is cleaned inside a compartment. The animal processing device may be a dual animal milking machine having full and half operation modes whereby two sets of processing equipments are used to service two animals simultaneously or only one set is used for both respectively.

An automatic animal processing device for automatically retrieving a domestic animal partly from a stall to process the animal while restraining the animal. The animal processing device includes an animal controlling mechanism operative to engage, position and restrain the animal for processing. The animal controlling mechanism may include at least on articulated arm to constrain and immobilize an animal to process it, e.g. milk it. The animal processing device may be a milking machine may be a milking machine having a milking head assembly and a cleaning system therefor whereby the milking head assembly is cleaned inside a compartment. The animal processing device may be a dual animal milking machine having full and half operation modes whereby two sets of processing equipments are used to service two animals simultaneously or only one set is used for both respectively.

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 teat preparation liner comprising an inlet for fluid flow into the liner, an opening, a liner cavity and a spray ring. The liner cavity is positioned adjacent to the opening inside the liner and surrounds a portion of the liner. The spray ring has a hollow interior and a plurality of apertures. The spray ring is coupled to the inlet so that fluid flows from the inlet into the hollow interior of the spray ring and out of the spray ring through the plurality of apertures. The spray ring is positioned inside the liner cavity so that the plurality of apertures face the inside of the liner opening. The spray ring is operable to encircle a dairy animal teat that is positioned inside the liner via the liner opening to simultaneously direct fluid flow from the inlet onto multiple portions of the teat via the apertures.

A teat preparation liner comprising an inlet for fluid flow into the liner, an opening, a liner cavity and a spray ring. The liner cavity is positioned adjacent to the opening inside the liner and surrounds a portion of the liner. The spray ring has a hollow interior and a plurality of apertures. The spray ring is coupled to the inlet so that fluid flows from the inlet into the hollow interior of the spray ring and out of the spray ring through the plurality of apertures. The spray ring is positioned inside the liner cavity so that the plurality of apertures face the inside of the liner opening. The spray ring is operable to encircle a dairy animal teat that is positioned inside the liner via the liner opening to simultaneously direct fluid flow from the inlet onto multiple portions of the teat via the apertures.