Automated cluster remover

A system, comprising:

• a cylinder;
• a piston positioned within the cylinder, the piston operable to move within the cylinder from a retracted position to an extended position;
• a vacuum port facilitating application of a vacuum pressure to the cylinder, the vacuum pressure resulting in a vacuum force being applied to the piston, the vacuum force causing the piston to move toward the retracted position;
• a spring member configured to apply a spring force to the piston when the piston is in the retracted position, the spring force offsetting at least a portion of the vacuum force;
• a sensor operable to:
• detect when a portion of the piston is within a predefined distance of the sensor;
• and
• generate a displacement signal is in response to detecting that the portion of the piston has moved outside the predefined distance from the sensor;
• and
• a control unit operable to:
• receive the displacement signal generated by the sensor;
• generate, in response to receiving the displacement signal, a first valve control signal to be communicated to a first valve located on a first vacuum line connecting a vacuum source to the vacuum port, the first valve control signal causing the first valve to move from a first position in which the vacuum pressure is applied to the cylinder via the vacuum port to a second position in which atmospheric pressure is applied to the cylinder via the vacuum port;
• and
• generate, in response to receiving the displacement signal, a second valve control signal to be communicated to a second valve located on a second vacuum line connecting a vacuum source to a cluster control valve, the second valve control signal causing the second valve to move from a second position in which atmospheric pressure is supplied to the second vacuum line to a first position in which a vacuum pressure is supplied to the second vacuum line.

A system, comprising:

• a cylinder comprising:
• a piston operable to move within the cylinder from a retracted position to an extended position, the movement of the piston facilitating the retraction of a milking cluster from a dairy livestock via a cord connecting the piston to the milking cluster;
• and
• a vacuum port facilitating application of a vacuum pressure to the cylinder;
• a first valve operable to control the application of a vacuum pressure from a vacuum source to a first vacuum line connecting the vacuum source to the vacuum port;
• a second valve operable to control the application of a vacuum pressure from the vacuum source to a second vacuum line connecting the vacuum source to:
• a cluster control valve operable, in response to the application of the vacuum pressure to the second vacuum line, to move from a first position to a second position in which a milking vacuum is applied to one or more teat cups of the milking cluster;
• and
• a pressure relief valve operable, in response to the application of the vacuum pressure to the second vacuum line, to move from a first position to a second position in which air is permitted to enter the cylinder via the pressure relief valve.