Milking unit support and detacher mechanism

A milking unit support and detacher mechanism for supporting a milking unit when the milking unit is attached to a cow for milking and for retracting the milking unit away from the cow at the completion of the milking cycle, the milking unit support and detacher mechanism comprising:

• a milking unit support arm pivotable between a downwardly extending position and an outwardly extending position, said milking unit support arm having an end for supporting a milking unit when the milking unit is attached to a cow for milking and when said arm is in said outwardly extending position,
• means for supporting said milking unit support arm for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis between said downwardly extending position and said outwardly extending position and for supporting said support arm such that said end for supporting said milking unit is releaseably held beneath the cow in a first position, said supporting means including means for supporting said support arm for pivotal movement about a generally vertical axis, said supporting means including a generally vertical shaft rotatable about said vertical axis and supporting said support arm, and including means for biasing said arm forwardly when said arm is pivoted about said vertical axis from said first position toward a position rearwardly of said first position and for biasing said arm rearwardly when said arm is pivoted about said vertical axis from said first position toward a position forward of said first position, said vertical shaft being freely rotatable about said vertical axis except when said arm is between said rearward position and said forward position, and
• means for retracting said milking unit and for moving said milking unit support arm from said outwardly extending position to said downwardly extending position including a flexible retracting member connected to the milking unit, and means for pulling said flexible retracting member.