Apparatus and method for positioning a teat cup

An apparatus, comprising:

• a rotatable platform;
• a milking stall located on said platform;
• a gate associated with an entrance of said stall, the gate movable between i) an open position in which said gate is removed from the entrance to said stall so as to allow a cow access to said stall, and ii) a closed position in which said gate is located adjacent the entrance to said stall to prevent the cow from entering or leaving said stall;
• a teat cup magazine mounted on said gate, and
• a teat cup magazine movement control system controlling movement of said teat cup magazine relative to said stall wherein movement of said gate between the open and closed positions corresponds to a movement of said teat cup magazine between a first, predefined storage position and a second, predefined working position,
• the movement control system comprising i) a roller mounted on said gate, and ii) at least one rail positioned to interact with said roller upon rotation of said platform for moving said teat cup magazine between the storage and working positions.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a rotatable platform;
• a milking stall provided on said platform;
• a teat cup magazine;
• and
• a movement control system for controlling movement of said teat cup magazine relative to said stall between a first predefined position relative to said milking stall and a second predefined position relative to said milking stall,
• said movement control system comprising automated parts moving said teat cup magazine to i) said first position upon rotation of said platform between a first position and a second position, and ii) to said second position upon rotation of said platform between a third position and a fourth position.

A method of locating a teat cup about the teat of an animal which is standing in a milking stall of a rotary platform, the method comprising the steps of:

• rotating the platform;
• automatically moving a teat cup magazine movable from a first predefined position and a second predefined position relative to the milking stall, the automatic movement being in dependence upon a first current position of the stall within a rotary cycle of the platform;
• removing a teat cup from said magazine, locating the teat cup about the teat of an animal;
• and
• further automatically moving a teat cup magazine movable between the second predefined position and the first predefined position relative to the milking stall, the further automatic movement being in dependence upon a second current position of the stall within a rotary cycle of the platform.