公开(公告)号：US10463015B2

公开(公告)日：2019-11-05

申请号：US15204832

申请日：2016-07-07

Applicant: Technologies Holdings Corp.

Inventor： Peter M. Linlor

IPC: A01J5/04 ,  A01J5/007 ,  A01J5/16

Abstract: 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.

公开(公告)号：US10349614B2

公开(公告)日：2019-07-16

申请号：US15448879

申请日：2017-03-03

Applicant: Technologies Holdings Corp.

Inventor： Mark A. Foresman ,  Marijn Van Anart

IPC: G06K9/00 ,  A01J5/007 ,  A01J5/017 ,  G01B11/24

Abstract: A system includes a robotic arm, memory, and a processor. The processor is configured to access first and second success counters stored in the memory. The first success counter is associated with a first attach algorithm and the second success counter is associated with a second attach algorithm. The processor is further configured to determine whether the first success counter is greater than the second success counter. The processor is further configured to execute the first attach algorithm if the first success counter is greater than the second success counter, and to execute the second attach algorithm if the first success counter is not greater than the second success counter. The processor is further configured to increment the first success counter if the first attach algorithm is successful, and to increment the second success counter if the second attach algorithm is successful.

公开(公告)号：US10306865B2

公开(公告)日：2019-06-04

申请号：US15855355

申请日：2017-12-27

Applicant: Technologies Holdings Corp.

Inventor： Rafael A. Fematt ,  Jacob R. Wilmott

IPC: A01J5/01 ,  A01J5/04 ,  F16K31/06 ,  F16K31/08 ,  F16K51/02

Abstract: A method for operating a valve, comprises directing fluid flow through a housing of the valve, wherein the fluid flows into the housing through a housing inlet and flows out of the housing through a housing outlet. The method continues by directing a first electric current into a solenoid coupled to the housing to generate a first magnetic field, wherein the first magnetic field exerts a force upon a plunger positioned inside the housing and causes the plunger to magnetically connect to a magnet. The method continues by directing a second electrical current into the solenoid to generate a second magnetic field, wherein the second magnetic field exerts a force upon the plunger causing the plunger to disconnect from the magnet and engage with the housing outlet. Fluid flows into the inlet through a milking hose, and fluid flows out of the outlet into a milking pipeline.

公开(公告)号：US10260648B2

公开(公告)日：2019-04-16

申请号：US15141034

申请日：2016-04-28

Applicant: Technologies Holdings Corp.

Inventor： Brian E. Osterbrink ,  Robert J. Godfrey ,  Craig M. Zell

IPC: F16K11/07 ,  A01J5/04 ,  A01J7/02

Abstract: An apparatus that includes a housing with an input port and a first output port. A piston is disposed within a bore of the housing and includes a bypass via disposed transversely within the bore and a bypass tube disposed longitudinally within the bore. The bypass tube is configured to provide a flow path from the bypass via to a second output port on the bypass tube. The piston includes a sleeve disposed concentrically around the bypass tube. An interior chamber is defined by an exterior surface of the sleeve and an interior surface of the bore of the housing. The piston is configurable between a first configuration that provides a first flow path between the input port and the first output port via the interior chamber and a second configuration that provides a second flow path between the input port and the second output port via the bypass tube.

公开(公告)号：US10172320B2

公开(公告)日：2019-01-08

申请号：US15274213

申请日：2016-09-23

Applicant: TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS CORP.

Inventor： Henk Hofman ,  Cor de Ruijter ,  Menno Koekoek ,  Peter Willem van der Sluis

IPC: A01J5/017 ,  A01J5/00 ,  A01K1/12 ,  A01J5/007 ,  A01J7/04 ,  A01K13/00

Abstract: A system includes a robotic arm positioned in an equipment area of a milking box that includes a stall portion housing a dairy livestock with four teats. The robotic arm retrieves a cup, and for a plurality of teats of the dairy livestock, the robotic arm attaches the cup to a teat, detaches the cup from the teat, and maintains the cup within the stall portion of the milking box from the time that the cup is attached to a first teat of the dairy livestock through the time that the cup is attached to a last teat of the dairy livestock. The cup is retracted into the equipment portion of the milking box after it is detached from the last teat of the dairy livestock.

公开(公告)号：US10130067B2

公开(公告)日：2018-11-20

申请号：US15904676

申请日：2018-02-26

Applicant: Technologies Holdings Corp.

Inventor： Hendrik Hofman ,  Peter van der Sluis

IPC: A01J5/017 ,  B25J15/06 ,  F16B1/00 ,  B25J15/00 ,  A01J7/04 ,  B25J11/00

Abstract: This invention is related to a double grab, its rinsing cup and milking machine provided therewith, and the method for automatically applying teat cups to the teats of an udder of an animal to be milked. The double grab, according to the invention, includes: —a first housing part provided with a first magnet designed to hold a first teat cup; —a second housing part, installed substantially in a horizontal plane next to the first housing part, provided with a second magnet designed to hold a second teat cup whereby each housing part is provided with separate pivoting means that can be activated and is designed to make the related housing part pivot around a pivoting axis which in use, extends substantially in a horizontal direction, substantially in a widthwise direction of the arm.

公开(公告)号：US10051832B2

公开(公告)日：2018-08-21

申请号：US15282479

申请日：2016-09-30

Applicant: Technologies Holdings Corp.

Inventor： Mark A. Foresman ,  Peter Willem van der Sluis ,  Robert J. Godfrey

IPC: G06K9/00 ,  A01J5/007 ,  A01J5/017 ,  A01J7/00 ,  G06T7/00 ,  B25J9/16

CPC classification number: A01J5/007 ,  A01J5/0175 ,  A01J7/00 ,  B25J9/1697 ,  G05B2219/45113 ,  G06T7/70 ,  G06T2207/10028

Abstract: A system includes a robotic arm, an imaging device coupled to the robotic arm, a tail positioner coupled to the robotic arm, and a processor. The imaging device captures imaging data of a rearview of a dairy livestock through a field of view of the imaging device. The tail positioner is able to move from a down position to an up position. The processor is coupled to both the imaging device and the tail positioner and is configured to identify a tail of the dairy livestock within the imaging data captured by the imaging device and send one or more instructions to raise the tail positioner from the down position to the up position, thereby moving the tail out of the field of view of the imaging device.

公开(公告)号：US09984470B2

公开(公告)日：2018-05-29

申请号：US15239425

申请日：2016-08-17

Applicant: Technologies Holdings Corp.

Inventor： Mark A. Foresman ,  Bradley J. Prevost

IPC: G06K9/00 ,  G06T7/00 ,  A01J7/00 ,  A01K29/00 ,  H04N13/02 ,  G06T1/00

CPC classification number: G06T7/11 ,  A01J7/00 ,  A01K29/00 ,  G06T1/0014 ,  G06T7/0042 ,  G06T7/0081 ,  G06T7/0083 ,  G06T7/13 ,  G06T7/194 ,  G06T7/33 ,  G06T7/50 ,  G06T7/75 ,  G06T2200/04 ,  G06T2207/10012 ,  G06T2207/10028 ,  G06T2207/20136 ,  H04N13/204

Abstract: A system that includes a three-dimensional (3D) camera configured to capture a 3D image of a rearview of a dairy livestock in a stall, a memory, and a processor. The processor is configured to obtain the 3D image, identify one or more regions within the 3D image comprising depth values greater than a depth value threshold, and apply the thigh gap detection rule set to the one or more regions to identify a thigh gap region. The processor is further configured to demarcate an access region within the thigh gap region and demarcate a tail detection region. The processor is further configured to partition the 3D image within the tail detection region to generate a plurality of image depth planes, examine each of the plurality of image depth planes, and determine position information for the tail of the dairy livestock in response to identifying the tail of the dairy livestock.

公开(公告)号：US09980460B2

公开(公告)日：2018-05-29

申请号：US15333836

申请日：2016-10-25

Applicant: Technologies Holdings Corp.

Inventor： Henk Hofman ,  Cor de Ruijter ,  Menno Koekoek ,  Peter Willem van der Sluis

IPC: A01J5/003 ,  A01J5/007 ,  A01J5/017 ,  G06T1/00 ,  G06T7/73

CPC classification number: A01J5/0175 ,  A01J5/003 ,  A01J5/007 ,  G06T1/0014 ,  G06T7/73

Abstract: A system comprises a robotic arm, camera, and a controller. The camera is positioned on a surface of the robotic arm and emits a laser signal at an upward, non-zero angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the robotic arm. The controller instructs the robotic arm to grip a milking cup, and determines a position of a teat of the dairy livestock based at least in part upon the non-zero angle of the laser signal emitted by the camera. The controller instructs the robotic arm to move the milking cup towards the determined position of the teat between the hind legs of the dairy livestock from the rear, release the milking cup in response to the milking cup being attached to the teat. move in an upward direction towards an udder of the dairy livestock in conjunction with the robotic arm releasing the milking cup, and to move away from the teat.

公开(公告)号：US09980457B2

公开(公告)日：2018-05-29

申请号：US15239597

申请日：2016-08-17

Applicant: Technologies Holdings Corp.

Inventor： Mark A. Foresman ,  Bradley J. Prevost

IPC: G06K9/00 ,  A01J5/007 ,  A01J5/017 ,  H04N13/02 ,  G06T1/00

CPC classification number: A01J5/007 ,  A01J5/017 ,  A01J5/0175 ,  G06T1/0014 ,  H04N13/204

Abstract: A system that includes a laser, a three-dimensional (3D) camera, a memory, and a processor. The processor is configured to determine the position of a first teat candidate relative to a second teat candidate, assign the first teat candidate and the second teat candidate as a left teat candidate or right teat candidate, and receive a teat identifier for a target teat. The processor is configured to determine whether the left or right teat candidate is within a teat location range of the target teat and to link the teat identifier with the left teat candidate or right teat candidate based on the determination.