US 7,066,108 B2Granted

Device for carrying a milking member, and method for carrying a milking member

AssigneeDeLaval Holding AB

InventorsKennet Andersson, Viktor Lindroth

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Abstract

The invention refers to a device and a method for carrying a milking member (1), which includes at least one teacup (3) and which is connected to a milking machine (5) via a flexible conduit member (6). A support element (10) is fixedly mounted in or at a milking box (13) arranged to receive an animal to be milked. An arm arrangement (9) is pivotably connected to the support element and arranged to support the milking member at least in connection with the application of the teacup to a teat of the animal. The arm arrangement is movable from a first position, in which the milking member is located beside the animal, to a second position, in which the milking member is located below the animal. The device includes a first part arranged to lock the milking member in relation to the arm arrangement in order to facilitate the application of the teacup to the teat.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A device for carrying a milking member, which includes at least a teatcup and which, via a flexible conduit member, is connectable to a milking machine arranged to provide a relatively low pressure,

wherein the device includes:
a support element, which is fixedly mounted to or at a milking box arranged to receive an animal to be milked;
and
an arm arrangement which is pivotably connected tothe support element and arranged to support the milking member at least in connection with the application of said teatcup to a teat of the animal, wherein the arm arrangement is moveable from a first position in which the milking member is located beside the animal, to a second position, in which the milking member is located below the animal,
wherein the device includes means for locking the milking member, which are arranged to permit locking of the milking member in relation to the arm arrangement in order to facilitate the application of said teatcup to the teat, and
wherein the device includes means for locking of the arm arrangement, which are arranged to permit locking of the arm arrangement in relation to the support element in the second position, and
further comprising means for releasing of the means for locking the milking member arranged to permit releasing of the locking of the milking member in relation to the arm arrangement after the application of the teatcup, wherein the milking member is partly moveable in relation to the arm arrangement and wherein the milking member is connected to the arm arrangement via the conduit member which is fixedly connected to the arm arrangement.

4 more elements

A method for carrying a milking member, which milking member includes at least one teatcup which is connectable to a milking machine via a flexible conduit member, by means of a device which includes a support element, which support element is fixedly mounted to or at a milking box arranged to receive an animal to be milked, and wherein the device further includes an arm arrangement which is pivotably connected to the support element and arranged to support the milking member at least in connection with the applying of said teatcup to a teat of said animal, wherein the method includes the steps of:

moving the arm arrangement from a first position, in which the milking member is located beside said animal, to a second position, in which the milking member is located below said animal;
locking the milking member in relation to the arm arrangement;
application of said teatcup to said teat;
locking of the arm arrangement in relation to the support element in the second position;
and
releasing of the locking of the arm arrangement after the application of said teatcup, wherein the arm arrangement is balanced with respect to the weight of the arm arrangement and the conduit member.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.