公开(公告)号：US09743635B2

公开(公告)日：2017-08-29

申请号：US15245254

申请日：2016-08-24

Applicant: TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS CORP

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

IPC: A01J5/017 ,  A01K1/12 ,  A01J5/007 ,  A01J7/00 ,  A01J7/02 ,  A01K13/00 ,  G05B15/02

CPC classification number: A01J5/0175 ,  A01J5/007 ,  A01J7/00 ,  A01J7/025 ,  A01K1/12 ,  A01K13/003 ,  G05B15/02 ,  G05B2219/2661 ,  G05B2219/45113 ,  Y10S901/02 ,  Y10S901/40 ,  Y10S901/47

Abstract: A robotic attacher retrieves a preparation cup from an equipment area of a milking box located behind a dairy livestock. The robotic attacher attaches and detaches the preparation cup to the teats of the dairy livestock in sequence. The sequence comprises attaching and detaching the preparation cup to the right front teat, the left front teat, the left rear teat, and the right rear teat.

公开(公告)号：US09737041B2

公开(公告)日：2017-08-22

申请号：US15218601

申请日：2016-07-25

Applicant: TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS CORP.

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

IPC: A01J5/00 ,  A01J5/017 ,  A01K1/12 ,  A01J5/007 ,  A01J7/00 ,  A01J7/02 ,  A01K13/00 ,  G05B15/02

CPC classification number: A01J5/0175 ,  A01J5/007 ,  A01J7/00 ,  A01J7/025 ,  A01K1/12 ,  A01K13/003 ,  G05B15/02 ,  G05B2219/2661 ,  G05B2219/45113 ,  Y10S901/02 ,  Y10S901/40 ,  Y10S901/47

Abstract: A robotic attacher retrieves cups from the left side of an equipment area located behind a dairy livestock and attaches the cups to the teats of the dairy livestock in sequence. The sequence comprises attaching a first cup to the left front teat, a second cup to the right front teat, a third cup to the left rear teat, and a fourth cup to the right rear teat.

公开(公告)号：US09737040B2

公开(公告)日：2017-08-22

申请号：US14941830

申请日：2015-11-16

Applicant: TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS CORP.

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

IPC: G06K9/00 ,  H04N13/02 ,  A01J5/007 ,  A01J5/017 ,  A01J7/00 ,  G06K9/62 ,  G06T7/00 ,  H04N5/225 ,  G06T7/73

CPC classification number: A01J5/007 ,  A01J5/017 ,  A01J5/0175 ,  A01J7/00 ,  G06K9/6202 ,  G06T7/0004 ,  G06T7/73 ,  G06T2207/10028 ,  G06T2207/30128 ,  H04N5/2252 ,  H04N13/204

Abstract: A system includes a three-dimensional camera and a processor communicatively coupled to the three-dimensional camera. The processor is operable to determine a first and second edge of a dairy livestock. The first edge includes an inner portion of a first hind leg and a first portion of an udder of the dairy livestock. The second edge includes an inner portion of a second hind leg and a second portion of the udder of the dairy livestock. The processor calculates a reference point associated with the udder of the dairy livestock based at least in part upon the first edge and the second edge. A robotic attacher moves toward the udder of the dairy livestock based at least in part upon the calculated reference point.

公开(公告)号：US20170223920A1

公开(公告)日：2017-08-10

申请号：US15016661

申请日：2016-02-05

Applicant: Technologies Holdings Corp.

Inventor： Robert J. Godfrey ,  Eugene P. Frakes

IPC: A01J7/04 ,  A01K13/00

CPC classification number: A01J7/04 ,  A01K13/001

Abstract: A teat preparation liner comprising an inlet for fluid flow into the liner, an opening, a liner cavity and a spray ring. The liner cavity is positioned adjacent to the opening inside the liner and surrounds a portion of the liner. The spray ring has a hollow interior and a plurality of apertures. The spray ring is coupled to the inlet so that fluid flows from the inlet into the hollow interior of the spray ring and out of the spray ring through the plurality of apertures. The spray ring is positioned inside the liner cavity so that the plurality of apertures face the inside of the liner opening. The spray ring is operable to encircle a dairy animal teat that is positioned inside the liner via the liner opening to simultaneously direct fluid flow from the inlet onto multiple portions of the teat via the apertures.

公开(公告)号：US09706745B2

公开(公告)日：2017-07-18

申请号：US15238898

申请日：2016-08-17

Applicant: TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS CORP.

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

IPC: A01J5/00 ,  A01J5/017 ,  A01J5/007 ,  A01K1/12 ,  G06T7/00 ,  H04N13/02 ,  G06T7/73 ,  G06T7/77

CPC classification number: A01J5/0175 ,  A01J5/007 ,  A01J5/017 ,  A01K1/12 ,  G06T7/001 ,  G06T7/74 ,  G06T7/77 ,  G06T2207/10012 ,  H04N13/204

Abstract: A system includes a robotic arm on which at least one camera is attached. It further includes a memory and a controller communicatively coupled to the memory. The memory stores historical information associated with a dairy livestock. The historical information include a previously-determined location of a teat of the dairy livestock. The controller moves the camera on the robotic arm toward the previously-determined location of the teat. The camera generates an image of the teat of the dairy livestock from a position to which it is moved, and the controller determines a current location of the teat of the dairy livestock based at least in part on the image.

公开(公告)号：US09648841B2

公开(公告)日：2017-05-16

申请号：US15095632

申请日：2016-04-11

Applicant: TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS CORP.

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

IPC: A01J7/02 ,  A01K1/12

CPC classification number: A01J7/025 ,  A01J7/022 ,  A01K1/12

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a system comprises a milk collecting system, a teat cup holder, and a cleansing hose system. The milk collecting system comprises a teat cup, a milk collector, and a milking hose system connecting the teat cup to the milk collector. The teat cup holder stores the teat cup of the milk collecting system such that a nozzle of the teat cup holder substantially aligns with an opening of the teat cup. The cleansing hose system connects the nozzle of the teat cup holder to one or more cleanser sources and operable to backwash at least a portion of the milk collecting system by injecting a cleanser from one or more of the cleanser sources through the nozzle and into the teat cup.

公开(公告)号：US20170112117A1

公开(公告)日：2017-04-27

申请号：US15399819

申请日：2017-01-06

Applicant: TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS CORP.

Inventor： Timothy S. O'Brien ,  Eric P. Camenga

IPC: A01M1/20 ,  E04B1/72 ,  F28D1/047 ,  F25B30/02 ,  F25B49/02 ,  F28D1/02 ,  A01M1/24 ,  F24H9/00

CPC classification number: A01M1/2094 ,  A01M1/24 ,  E04B1/72 ,  F24H3/002 ,  F24H9/0057 ,  F25B3/00 ,  F25B30/02 ,  F25B49/022 ,  F25B2400/01 ,  F25B2600/025 ,  F25B2700/2103 ,  F28D1/024 ,  F28D1/0472

Abstract: A method for killing pests in an affected area of a structure includes receiving a flow of water from a faucet, wherein the faucet comprises one of a shower faucet and a sink faucet and the temperature of the flow of water is at least 45 degrees Fahrenheit. The method continues by generating heated air using a heat pump by transferring heat from the flow of water to air, and emitting the heated air into an affected area in order to raise the temperature of the affected area to a target temperature greater than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The method concludes by monitoring a temperature of a flow of water as it is received and, automatically ceasing operation of the heat pump when the temperature of the flow of water is above a predefined limit.

公开(公告)号：US20170112086A1

公开(公告)日：2017-04-27

申请号：US15397939

申请日：2017-01-04

Applicant: Technologies Holdings Corp.

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

IPC: A01J7/04 ,  B25J9/00 ,  B25J9/16 ,  H04N7/18 ,  A01J5/003 ,  A01J5/007 ,  A01K13/00 ,  A01K1/12 ,  B25J11/00

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: In certain embodiments, a system for applying disinfectant to the teats of a dairy livestock includes a carriage mounted on a track, the carriage operable to translate laterally along the track. The system further includes a robotic arm including a first member pivotally attached to the carriage such that the first member may rotate about a point of attachment to the carriage, a second member pivotally attached to the first member such that the second member may rotate about a point of attachment to the first member, and a spray tool member pivotally attached to the second member such that the spray tool member may rotate about a point of attachment to the second member. The robotic arm further includes a spray tool attached to the spray tool member. The system further includes a controller operable to cause at least a portion of the robotic arm to extend between the hind legs of a dairy livestock such that the spray tool is located at a spray position from which the spray tool may discharge an amount of disinfectant to the teats of the dairy livestock.

公开(公告)号：US09615537B2

公开(公告)日：2017-04-11

申请号：US15136460

申请日：2016-04-22

Applicant: TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS CORP

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

IPC: A01J5/007 ,  A01K1/12 ,  A01J5/017 ,  A01K1/01 ,  A01K5/02 ,  A01K11/00

CPC classification number: A01J5/007 ,  A01J5/0175 ,  A01K1/01 ,  A01K1/0103 ,  A01K1/12 ,  A01K5/02 ,  A01K11/006 ,  G05B2219/45094

Abstract: A milking box comprises a stall portion having a longitudinal axis. A backplane is positioned in the stall portion and moves toward the rear of the stall portion along the longitudinal axis in response to pressure applied, and toward the front of the stall portion in response to pressure removed. A robotic attacher extends from the rear of the stall portion and between the hind legs of a dairy livestock. A controller determines the position of the backplane relative to the rear of the stall portion and determines a positional offset that increases as the dairy livestock moves toward the front of the stall and decreases as it moves toward the rear of the stall. The controller further communicates a signal to move the robotic attacher along the longitudinal axis. The amount of movement is determined at least in part according to the positional offset.

公开(公告)号：US20170079235A1

公开(公告)日：2017-03-23

申请号：US15370571

申请日：2016-12-06

Applicant: TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS CORP.

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

IPC: A01J7/04 ,  B25J9/16 ,  A01J5/007 ,  A01K13/00 ,  A01K1/12 ,  A01J5/003

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 spray tool coupled to a robotic arm that extends between the legs of dairy livestock, comprises a linear member and a plurality of spray nozzles. The linear member rotates about an axis that is perpendicular to the robotic arm, and has a perimeter that lies within an outer perimeter of the robotic arm when the robotic arm extends between the legs of a dairy livestock. The plurality of spray nozzles are coupled to the linear member.