公开(公告)号：US10303939B2

公开(公告)日：2019-05-28

申请号：US16054801

申请日：2018-08-03

Applicant: Technologies Holdings Corp.

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

IPC: G06K9/00 ,  A01K29/00 ,  A01J5/017 ,  A01J5/007 ,  G06T5/00 ,  G06T7/73 ,  G06T7/136

Abstract: A system comprises a memory operable to store first light intensity information for a first pixel of an image that includes a dairy livestock, and second light intensity information for a second pixel of the image. The system further comprises a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and operable to determine that a difference between the first light intensity information and the second light intensity information exceeds a threshold, and discard one of the first pixel or the second pixel from the image. The system further includes a robotic attacher configured to position milking equipment relative to the dairy livestock based at least in part upon the light intensity image, excluding the discarded pixel

公开(公告)号：US20190029214A1

公开(公告)日：2019-01-31

申请号：US16150467

申请日：2018-10-03

Applicant: TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS CORP.

Inventor： Peter Willem van der Sluis ,  Henk Hofman

IPC: A01J5/017 ,  A01K1/12 ,  A01J5/04

CPC classification number: A01J5/017 ,  A01J5/0175 ,  A01J5/041 ,  A01K1/126

Abstract: A milking robot includes a movable arm having a first end that couples to a frame and a free extremity at a second end that extends telescopically in a longitudinal direction. The milking robot further includes at least one gripper coupled to the free extremity of the movable arm at the second end, wherein the gripper is extendable away from the movable arm in the longitudinal direction based at least in part upon the telescopic extension of the free extremity.

公开(公告)号：US20180341800A1

公开(公告)日：2018-11-29

申请号：US16054801

申请日：2018-08-03

Applicant: Technologies Holdings Corp.

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

IPC: G06K9/00 ,  G06T7/73 ,  G06T5/00 ,  G06T7/136 ,  A01K29/00 ,  A01J5/017 ,  A01J5/007

CPC classification number: G06K9/0055 ,  A01J5/007 ,  A01J5/0175 ,  A01K29/005 ,  G06K9/00362 ,  G06K9/00664 ,  G06T5/002 ,  G06T7/136 ,  G06T7/73 ,  G06T2207/10028 ,  G06T2207/30128

Abstract: A system comprises a memory operable to store first light intensity information for a first pixel of an image that includes a dairy livestock, and second light intensity information for a second pixel of the image. The system further comprises a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and operable to determine that a difference between the first light intensity information and the second light intensity information exceeds a threshold, and discard one of the first pixel or the second pixel from the image. The system further includes a robotic attacher configured to position milking equipment relative to the dairy livestock based at least in part upon the light intensity image, excluding the discarded pixel

公开(公告)号：US10104863B1

公开(公告)日：2018-10-23

申请号：US15948645

申请日：2018-04-09

Applicant: Technologies Holdings Corp.

Inventor： Joel R. Henry ,  Bruce A. Schroeder ,  Adam R. Hachey ,  Rizwan Ajaz ,  Peter Willem van der Sluis

IPC: A01J7/04 ,  B25J9/16 ,  B25J15/00 ,  B25J15/04 ,  B25J5/02 ,  A01K1/12

Abstract: An apparatus includes a carriage, camera, spray tool, and controller. The carriage is movably coupled to a track. The camera and spray tool are coupled to the carriage. The controller moves the carriage along the track away from a starting position based on a first signal from the camera, and as the carriage moves away from the starting position, discharges, through the spray tool, a solution for a first time. The controller moves the carriage towards the starting position after the solution has been discharged for the first time, and based on a second signal from the camera as the carriage moves towards the starting position and before the carriage reaches the starting position, moves the carriage away from the starting position. As the carriage moves away from the starting position, the controller discharges, through the spray tool, the solution for a second time.

公开(公告)号：US20180160645A1

公开(公告)日：2018-06-14

申请号：US15895473

申请日：2018-02-13

Applicant: TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS CORP.

Inventor： Henk Hofman ,  Peter Willem van der Sluis ,  Ype Groensma

IPC: A01J5/00 ,  A01J5/003 ,  A01K1/12 ,  A01J5/017 ,  H04N5/247 ,  A01K5/02 ,  A01J7/02 ,  A01J9/00 ,  A01J5/06 ,  G06T7/70 ,  G06K9/00 ,  G06T1/00 ,  A01J5/01 ,  A01K11/00 ,  A01K1/00 ,  A01K5/00 ,  A01J5/013 ,  A01J7/04 ,  B25J19/02 ,  A01J7/00 ,  A01J5/007 ,  B25J13/08

CPC classification number: A01J5/00 ,  A01J5/003 ,  A01J5/007 ,  A01J5/01 ,  A01J5/013 ,  A01J5/017 ,  A01J5/0175 ,  A01J5/04 ,  A01J5/06 ,  A01J7/00 ,  A01J7/025 ,  A01J7/04 ,  A01J9/00 ,  A01K1/0023 ,  A01K1/0029 ,  A01K1/12 ,  A01K5/00 ,  A01K5/02 ,  A01K11/006 ,  B25J13/08 ,  B25J19/023 ,  G05B2219/45113 ,  G06K9/00362 ,  G06T1/0014 ,  G06T7/70 ,  H04N5/247 ,  H04N13/204 ,  Y10S901/02 ,  Y10S901/47

Abstract: A system comprises a milking box, a robotic attacher, a sensor, and a controller. The milking box has a stall to accommodate a dairy livestock. The stall comprises a first exit gate on a first side of the stall leading to a first sorting region and a second exit gate on a second side of the stall leading to a second sorting region. The robotic attacher extends from the rear between the hind legs of the dairy livestock. The sensor identifies the dairy livestock within the milking box stall. The controller selects and opens the first exit gate or the second exit gate based at least in part upon the identity of the dairy livestock.

公开(公告)号：US09883654B2

公开(公告)日：2018-02-06

申请号：US15641424

申请日：2017-07-05

Applicant: TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS CORP.

Inventor： Henk Hofman ,  Cor de Ruijter ,  Menno Koekoek ,  Michael A. Mills ,  Peter Willem van der Sluis

IPC: A01J5/00 ,  A01K1/12 ,  A01J5/007 ,  A01J5/017

CPC classification number: A01K1/12 ,  A01J5/00 ,  A01J5/007 ,  A01J5/0175

Abstract: A system includes a first milking box stall of a size sufficient to accommodate a first dairy livestock and a second milking box stall of a size sufficient to accommodate a second dairy livestock. The first and second milking box stalls face opposite directions. An equipment portion is located between the first milking box stall and the second milking box stall. A robotic attacher is housed in the equipment portion and configured to service both stalls at different times. The robotic attacher comprises a gripping portion having a spray nozzle. The gripping portion is operable to rotate around a longitudinal axis such that during a milking operation the spray nozzle is positioned on the bottom of the gripping portion, and after the milking operation the spray nozzle is positioned on the top of the gripping portion.

公开(公告)号：US20170295745A1

公开(公告)日：2017-10-19

申请号：US15637247

申请日：2017-06-29

Applicant: Technologies Holdings Corp.

Inventor： Henk Hofman ,  Peter Willem van der Sluis ,  Ype Groensma

IPC: A01J7/04 ,  A01J5/007 ,  A01J5/017 ,  A01K1/12 ,  G06T1/00 ,  A01K13/00 ,  B25J11/00 ,  B25J9/16 ,  A01J5/003 ,  B25J9/00 ,  G05B19/042

Abstract: A method for applying disinfectant to the teats of a dairy livestock comprises moving a robotic arm along a track in relation to a rotary milking platform housing a dairy livestock and independent of any physical coupling between the robotic arm and the rotary milking platform. The rotary milking platform has a substantially circular perimeter. The track is positioned outside the perimeter of the rotary milking platform. At least a portion of the track is straight and offset in relation to the rotary milking platform. The robotic arm comprises an arm member operable to pivot about an axis that is parallel to the track, and a spray tool attached to one end of the arm member. The method further comprises extending the robotic arm between the hind legs of the dairy livestock while the rotary milking platform rotates such that the spray tool is located at a spray position from which it may discharge disinfectant to the teats of the dairy livestock.

公开(公告)号：US09763422B2

公开(公告)日：2017-09-19

申请号：US15162815

申请日：2016-05-24

Applicant: TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS CORP.

Inventor： Henk Hofman ,  Peter Willem van der Sluis ,  Ype Groensma

IPC: A01K1/12 ,  A01J5/00 ,  A01J5/017 ,  A01J5/003 ,  A01K1/00 ,  A01J7/04 ,  A01J5/007 ,  A01J7/00 ,  B25J13/08 ,  B25J19/02 ,  A01J9/00 ,  A01J7/02 ,  A01K5/02 ,  H04N5/247 ,  A01J5/06 ,  A01J5/013 ,  A01K5/00 ,  A01K11/00 ,  G06K9/00 ,  H04N13/02 ,  G06T7/70 ,  A01J5/01 ,  G06T1/00

CPC classification number: A01J5/00 ,  A01J5/003 ,  A01J5/007 ,  A01J5/01 ,  A01J5/013 ,  A01J5/017 ,  A01J5/0175 ,  A01J5/04 ,  A01J5/06 ,  A01J7/00 ,  A01J7/025 ,  A01J7/04 ,  A01J9/00 ,  A01K1/0023 ,  A01K1/0029 ,  A01K1/12 ,  A01K5/00 ,  A01K5/02 ,  A01K11/006 ,  B25J13/08 ,  B25J19/023 ,  G05B2219/45113 ,  G06K9/00362 ,  G06T1/0014 ,  G06T7/70 ,  H04N5/247 ,  H04N13/204 ,  Y10S901/02 ,  Y10S901/47

Abstract: A system includes a milking box stall of a size sufficient to accommodate a dairy livestock. The milking box stall comprises a front wall, a rear wall, a first side wall and a second side wall. The system further includes an equipment portion located adjacent to the rear wall. The equipment portion comprises a separation container for use with only the milking box stall and that is operable to receive milk from the dairy livestock to be discarded if it is determined to be bad milk. The equipment portion further comprises a receiver jar for use with only the milking box stall and that is operable to receive milk from the dairy livestock if it is determined to be good milk.

公开(公告)号：US09706747B2

公开(公告)日：2017-07-18

申请号：US15209096

申请日：2016-07-13

Applicant: TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS CORP.

Inventor： Henk Hofman ,  Peter Willem van der Sluis ,  Ype Groensma

IPC: A01J7/04 ,  A01K13/00 ,  B25J9/16 ,  A01K29/00 ,  A01J5/003 ,  A01J5/007 ,  A01J5/017 ,  A01K1/12 ,  G06T1/00 ,  G06T7/73 ,  A01J7/00 ,  B25J11/00 ,  G06T7/00 ,  G06T7/13

CPC classification number: A01J7/04 ,  A01J5/003 ,  A01J5/007 ,  A01J5/0175 ,  A01J7/00 ,  A01K1/126 ,  A01K13/001 ,  A01K29/00 ,  B25J9/0027 ,  B25J9/0093 ,  B25J9/0096 ,  B25J9/1679 ,  B25J9/1684 ,  B25J9/1697 ,  B25J11/0045 ,  G05B19/042 ,  G05B2219/2661 ,  G05B2219/45113 ,  G06T1/0014 ,  G06T7/0004 ,  G06T7/13 ,  G06T7/73 ,  G06T7/74 ,  G06T2200/04 ,  G06T2207/10004 ,  G06T2207/10021 ,  G06T2207/10028 ,  H04N7/183 ,  Y10S901/02 ,  Y10S901/06 ,  Y10S901/07 ,  Y10S901/09 ,  Y10S901/41 ,  Y10S901/43 ,  Y10S901/47

Abstract: A system for operating a robotic arm, comprises a controller and a robotic arm. The controller receives an indication that a stall of a rotary milking platform in which a dairy livestock is located has moved into an area adjacent a robotic arm that is detached from the rotary milking platform. The controller also determines whether a milking cluster is attached to the dairy livestock. The robotic arm is communicatively coupled to the controller and extends between the legs of the dairy livestock if the controller determines that the milking cluster is not attached to the dairy livestock. The robotic arm does not extend between the legs of the dairy livestock if the controller determines that the milking cluster is attached to the dairy livestock.

公开(公告)号：US09686962B2

公开(公告)日：2017-06-27

申请号：US15273929

申请日：2016-09-23

Applicant: TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS CORP.

Inventor： Henk Hofman ,  Peter Willem van der Sluis ,  Ype Groensma

IPC: A01J7/04 ,  A01K13/00 ,  B25J9/16 ,  A01K29/00 ,  A01J5/003 ,  A01J5/007 ,  A01J5/017 ,  A01K1/12 ,  G06T1/00 ,  G06T7/73 ,  A01J7/00 ,  G06T7/00 ,  G06T7/13

CPC classification number: A01J7/04 ,  A01J5/003 ,  A01J5/007 ,  A01J5/0175 ,  A01J7/00 ,  A01K1/126 ,  A01K13/001 ,  A01K29/00 ,  B25J9/0027 ,  B25J9/0093 ,  B25J9/0096 ,  B25J9/1679 ,  B25J9/1684 ,  B25J9/1697 ,  B25J11/0045 ,  G05B19/042 ,  G05B2219/2661 ,  G05B2219/45113 ,  G06T1/0014 ,  G06T7/0004 ,  G06T7/13 ,  G06T7/73 ,  G06T7/74 ,  G06T2200/04 ,  G06T2207/10004 ,  G06T2207/10021 ,  G06T2207/10028 ,  H04N7/183 ,  Y10S901/02 ,  Y10S901/06 ,  Y10S901/07 ,  Y10S901/09 ,  Y10S901/41 ,  Y10S901/43 ,  Y10S901/47

Abstract: A system includes a camera, a controller and a robotic arm. The camera generates an image of an udder of a dairy livestock. The controller determines a position of the udder of the dairy livestock based at least in part upon the image. The controller further determines a spray position based at least in part upon the determined position of the udder of the dairy livestock. Determining the spray position includes processing the accessed image to determine a tangent at the rear of the udder and a tangent at the bottom of the udder. The spray position is a position relative to the intersection of the two tangents. The robotic arm is communicatively coupled to the controller and positions a spray tool at the spray position.