A system comprising a teat preparation cup coupled to a vacuum pump. A first pressure sensor measures the vacuum level of the vacuum pump. A second pressure sensor measures vacuum level inside the preparation cup. The system further comprises a controller comprising an interface, a memory, and a processor.

The processor determines if the vacuum pump has sufficient vacuum level and communicates instructions to induce a partial vacuum in the teat preparation cup. The processor determines if the teat preparation cup has a vacuum level greater than a vacuum threshold value and when this condition is achieved, communicates instructions to initiate a teat preparation cycle comprising allowing fluid flowing from a fluid source container through the teat preparation cup into a fluid disposal container.

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.

A milking arrangement with a plurality of milk stations connected to the milk transport line, a receiver connected to the transport line that receives milk transported from the milk stations via the transport line, and a vacuum system that supplies a vacuum in the transport line via the receiver, with a cleaning liquid source connected to the transport line, a controllable injector that introduces an amount of gas into the transport line to produce a temporary pressure increase therein that causes a slug of a cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid source to be formed and forwarded through the transport line, and a control system configured to control the operation of the injector, wherein the control system is configured to control characteristics of the slug by controlling the vacuum level supplied by the vacuum system and/or the amount of gas introduced via the controllable injector.

A valve apparatus comprises a housing, a solenoid operable to receive electrical current flow, and an enclosure, the enclosure housing the solenoid, a magnet coupled to the enclosure, a plunger comprising a stopper and a conductive portion, and a spring coupled to the plunger. When the solenoid receives a first current, the solenoid applies a first magnetic force onto the plunger causing the stopper to disengage from the housing outlet, the conductive portion of the plunger magnetically connects with the magnet, and the stopper remains disengaged from the housing outlet after the first period of time expires. When the conductive portion is magnetically connected to the magnet and the solenoid receives a second current, the solenoid applies a second magnetic force onto the plunger causing the conductive portion of the plunger to disconnect from the magnet so that the stopper engages with the housing outlet.

A milking device for milking a dairy animal comprises a teat cup with a cup wall and a teat liner and a pulsation space situated in between, to which pulsation space a pulsation device is connected which is configured to apply a pressure that varies in pulsations to the pulsation space in order to open and close the teat liner, and which pulsation device comprises a supply line which is controllable by a first operable valve, in particular closable, for supplying a first pressure, a supply line which is controllable by a second operable valve, in particular closable, for supplying a second pressure, which is a lower pressure than the first pressure, and a control unit which is configured to generate control signals for operating the first valve and the second valve, wherein the first valve, and preferably also the second valve, is a controllable valve having a passage which is adjustable by means of the control signals, wherein the passage of the first valve, and preferably of the second valve, respectively, is adjustable during at least one pulsation phase by the control unit via the control signals.

A milking device for milking a dairy animal includes a teat cup with a cup wall and a teat liner and a pulsation space situated in between, the pulsation space being connected to a pulsation device that is configured to apply a pressure that varies in pulsations to the pulsation space in order to open and close the teat liner. The pulsation device includes a supply line controllable by a first operable valve for supplying a first pressure, a supply line controllable by a second operable valve for supplying a second pressure lower than the first pressure, and a control unit configured to generate control signals for operating the first and second valves. At least the first valve is a controllable valve having a passage that is adjustable during at least one pulsation phase by the control unit.

A vacuum pump arrangement for a milking plant includes a main vacuum conduit with at least two vacuum pump units for maintaining a system vacuum in the main vacuum conduit. Each of the vacuum pump units includes a pump, a vacuum tank connected to the pump by an intermediate conduit, and an inlet conduit connecting the vacuum tank to the main vacuum conduit. A drainage extends from the vacuum tank and includes a draining valve. The pump sucks air from the main vacuum conduit via the inlet conduit, the vacuum tank and the intermediate conduit. The vacuum pump unit includes a closing valve provided on the inlet conduit and configured to close the inlet conduit in an automatic manner when the pump has been stopped.

A control valve and a membrane for a moving a valve disk of a control valve between a first position and a second position are provided. The membrane has a central axis perpendicular to an extension plane of the membrane. The membrane includes an outer annular rim portion, a central portion configured to be connected the valve disk, and a flexible portion that is annular and provided between the central portion and the outer annular rim portion. The membrane is flexible to permit the central portion to move back and forth along the central axis, thereby permitting the valve disk to move to one of the first position and the second position. The membrane is designed with an inherent pre-tensioning of the flexible portion, which permits the membrane to exert a force on the valve disk from the first position towards the second position.

A control valve and a membrane for a moving a valve disk of a control valve between a first position and a second position are provided. The membrane has a central axis perpendicular to an extension plane of the membrane. The membrane includes an outer annular rim portion, a central portion configured to be connected the valve disk, and a flexible portion that is annular and provided between the central portion and the outer annular rim portion. The membrane is flexible to permit the central portion to move back and forth along the central axis, thereby permitting the valve disk to move to one of the first position and the second position. The membrane is designed with an inherent pre-tensioning of the flexible portion, which permits the membrane to exert a force on the valve disk from the first position towards the second position.

A vacuum pump arrangement for a milking plant includes a main vacuum conduit with at least two vacuum pump units for maintaining a system vacuum in the main vacuum conduit. Each of the vacuum pump units includes a pump, a vacuum tank connected to the pump by an intermediate conduit, and an inlet conduit connecting the vacuum tank to the main vacuum conduit. A drainage extends from the vacuum tank and includes a draining valve. The pump sucks air from the main vacuum conduit via the inlet conduit, the vacuum tank and the intermediate conduit. The vacuum pump unit includes a closing valve provided on the inlet conduit and configured to close the inlet conduit in an automatic manner when the pump has been stopped.