A teat cup shell (2) includes a substantially tubular body having a center axis (4). A plane (6) extending along the center axis (4) defines a first shell portion (8) and a second shell portion (10) on opposite sides of the plane (6). The first shell portion (8) includes a magnetic material, and an outer surface (12) adapted to abut against at least one surface of an electromagnetic device. The first shell portion (8) and the second shell portion (10) differ from each other with respect to material composition and/or material thickness. The amount of magnetic material in the first shell portion (8) is higher than in the second shell portion (10). Further, a teat cup and an arrangement for automatically milking animals includes at least one robot arm (32) adapted to attach the teat cup (16) to a teat of an animal.

A milking system includes a milking apparatus for milking of dairy animals, and a plurality of wearing parts, inclusive of teat liners and/or milk lines and/or pulsation lines. The system further includes a computer system configured to control and/or monitor the milking apparatus, and to generate a signal which indicates that one of the wearing parts should be replaced and provides a characterization of that wearing part. The milking system further includes a 3D printer operatively connected to the computer system and configured to print the characterized part on the basis of the generated signal. Thus it is not necessary to keep an unnecessarily large stock of spare parts, but it becomes possible to directly provide the spare parts quickly, cheaply and with less chance of errors. Moreover, it is thus possible to tailor the parts, especially teat liners, to animals.

A milking system includes a milking apparatus for milking of dairy animals, and a plurality of wearing parts, inclusive of teat liners and/or milk lines and/or pulsation lines. The system further includes a computer system configured to control and/or monitor the milking apparatus, and to generate a signal which indicates that one of the wearing parts should be replaced and provides a characterization of that wearing part. The milking system further includes a 3D printer operatively connected to the computer system and configured to print the characterized part on the basis of the generated signal. Thus it is not necessary to keep an unnecessarily large stock of spare parts, but it becomes possible to directly provide the spare parts quickly, cheaply and with less chance of errors. Moreover, it is thus possible to tailor the parts, especially teat liners, to animals.

A milking system for milking a dairy animal includes a milking cup and a measuring chamber which is in flow communication with the milking cup for the obtained milk where the chamber has a sensor system for measuring at least one property of the milk. The sensor system includes at least three optical sensor devices, each configured to measure values of a property of the milk, and a sensor control unit for actuating the sensor system and for processing the measured values. The sensor control unit is configured to repeatedly select one of the sensor devices. Two of the optical sensor devices are identical, and the sensor system is configured to in each case measure the local value of the property of the milk and to determine a value of the at least one property of the milk in the measuring chamber on the basis of the values measured locally.

A milking system for milking a dairy animal includes a milking cup and a measuring chamber which is in flow communication with the milking cup for the obtained milk where the chamber has a sensor system for measuring at least one property of the milk. The sensor system includes at least three optical sensor devices, each configured to measure values of a property of the milk, and a sensor control unit for actuating the sensor system and for processing the measured values. The sensor control unit is configured to repeatedly select one of the sensor devices. Two of the optical sensor devices are identical, and the sensor system is configured to in each case measure the local value of the property of the milk and to determine a value of the at least one property of the milk in the measuring chamber on the basis of the values measured locally.

A teatcup to be attached to a teat of an animal to be milked includes a connector and a cartridge received in the connector. The cartridge includes a sleeve having an upper end and a lower end, a teatcup liner mounted in the sleeve and having an inner space for receiving the teat, and a pulsation chamber provided between the sleeve and the teatcup liner. The teatcup liner includes an upper end portion located at the upper end of the sleeve, a barrel portion and a lower end portion extending beyond the lower end of the sleeve. The lower end portion forms an end nozzle extending beyond the lower end of the sleeve and having a circumferential external surface. An annular seal element is provided at the circumferential external surface to seal between the lower end nozzle and the connector.

A teatcup to be attached to a teat of an animal to be milked includes a connector and a cartridge received in the connector. The cartridge includes a sleeve having an upper end and a lower end, a teatcup liner mounted in the sleeve and having an inner space for receiving the teat, and a pulsation chamber provided between the sleeve and the teatcup liner. The teatcup liner includes an upper end portion located at the upper end of the sleeve, a barrel portion and a lower end portion extending beyond the lower end of the sleeve. The lower end portion forms an end nozzle extending beyond the lower end of the sleeve and having a circumferential external surface. An annular seal element is provided at the circumferential external surface to seal between the lower end nozzle and the connector.

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.

A diagnostic apparatus for testing a milking point of a milking machine includes sensors for measuring fluid-transport related parameters, including various pressure levels and/or flow values relating to a set of teatcups includes a controllable valve and a set of test tubes. Each test tube is configured to be attached to one teatcup, where the controllable valve selectively arranges a particular one of the test tubes for measurement of at least one parameter via one of the sensors in response to a control signal. The measurements are performed while all the teatcups are simultaneously attached to the test tubes and an external vacuum pressure is applied either on a milk-line side of the controllable valve or on a side opposite to the milk-line side relative to the controllable valve.

A protective device for a milking cup including a milking cup part enclosing a portion of the milking cup at a location of a connection, the milking cup part including a wall. The milking cup part includes an opening in the wall for passing through at least one of a milk discharge line and pulsating line, and a single-part or multipart line part connectable to form a circumferential wall for enclosing at least a part of the at least one of the milk discharge line and the pulsating line. The line part is connected to the milking cup part around the opening in the wall, wherein the line part, from the milking cup part, successively encloses first, second, and third parts, wherein at least the third part is dimensionally stable and the second part is, for example, at least ten times more flexible than the third part.