Disclosed is a mechanical manifold valve for robotic milking that is designed to operate at varying pressures, and which is operated automatically according to the pressure in at least one of the teat cups, such that the pressure in that teat cup influences the operation of the manifold valve, thereby controlling the pressure in at least one additional teat cup.

The present invention relates to preparing dairy animal teats for being milked, and more particularly to teat preparation, rinsing, and milking that all take place in a milking machine teat cup liner. Such a method includes: applying a teat sanitizer to the teat; injecting air into the liner to force the teat sanitizer toward a waste milk line connected to the liner; pulsating the liner at a first pulsation rate; drawing a rinsing milk from the teat; directing the teat sanitizer, the air, and the rinsing fluid to the waste milk line; pulsating the liner at a second pulsation rate to draw additional milk from the teat; and directing the additional milk to a good milk line.

A system and method for verifying proper milking system performance during the milking process. The system and method incorporates an integral function within a pulsator valve device that routinely performs functional evaluations and is capable of reporting results to the user. An additional air valve apparatus can be used to supply additional air to the pulsator valve device.

A three-dimensional camera of an automatic milking system records image data representing an outer surface of a teat of a dairy animal in three dimensions. Based on the image data, a processing unit performs a geometric analysis and calculates at least one size measure of the teat. A user interface presents output data reflecting the size-related classification of the teat.

A milking control arrangement and milk extracting system, configured to obtain teat size data of at least one teat of an animal to be milked and to adjust a milking parameter of a milk extraction unit when milk is extracted from the teat based on the obtained teat size data of the teat.

A method of monitoring a milking process by a milking apparatus that includes a teatcup with a pulsation space and an airline to deliver varying levels of pressure to the pulsation space. The method includes: measuring airflow within the airline to obtain an indication of volume of displaced air within the pulsation space; comparing the volume with a reference value; and determining a connection parameter, indicating how the teatcup is connected to the teat, based on the comparison. The displaced air volume correlates to the extent the teat protrudes into the teatcup, thus providing information on how the teatcup is connected. Also provided is a milking system incorporating the method.

A method and device for milking using a milking system with a control unit and an adjustable stimulator, including stimulating for a stimulus time and subsequently milking a dairy animal, measuring and evaluating the milk flow profile in order to determine if the milk flow profile is bimodal. If it is, then the control unit automatically adjusts the stimulating operation by extending the stimulating operation by an extension value. If it is not, then the control unit may, optionally automatically, shorten the stimulating operation. As a result, the milking system is able to reduce the strain on the teats caused by unnecessary stimulation or by milking in an efficient way during a bimodal part of the milking operation and also to adjust this during the entire lactation, if necessary. In this way, changes in the dairy animal itself are also compensated for.

An automatic milking machine extracts milk from the teats of an animal by applying a milking vacuum to a respective teat receiving cavity of a teat cup (111, 112, 113, 114) each in which one of the teats is located during a milking session. The milking session includes a boost phase (TBOOST) and is concluded by an exit phase (TEXIT). During the boost phase (TBOOST), the milking vacuum is applied at an elevated pressure level. During the exit phase, the milking vacuum is applied at one or more levels, each of which is lower than the elevated pressure level. The operation of the automatic milking machine transitions from the boost phase (TBOOST) to the exit phase (TEXIT) when (t2) a temporal criterion is fulfilled.

A method and device for milking using a milking system with a control unit and an adjustable stimulator, including stimulating for a stimulus time and subsequently milking a dairy animal, measuring and evaluating the milk flow profile in order to determine if the milk flow profile is bimodal. If it is, then the control unit automatically adjusts the stimulating operation by extending the stimulating operation by an extension value. If it is not, then the control unit may, optionally automatically, shorten the stimulating operation. As a result, the milking system is able to reduce the strain on the teats caused by unnecessary stimulation or by milking in an efficient way during a bimodal part of the milking operation and also to adjust this during the entire lactation, if necessary. In this way, changes in the dairy animal itself are also compensated for.

A system and method for verifying proper milking system performance during the milking process. The system and method incorporates an integral function within a pulsator valve device that routinely performs functional evaluations and is capable of reporting results to the user. An additional air valve apparatus can be used to supply additional air to the pulsator valve device.