公开(公告)号：US20190145805A1

公开(公告)日：2019-05-16

申请号：US15813745

申请日：2017-11-15

Applicant: Technologies Holdings Corp.

Inventor： Robert E. Hanes, JR. ,  Richard L. Pettys, JR. ,  Daniel T. Nichols ,  Richard B. Voigt ,  Joel R. Henry ,  Roma M. Montifar ,  David M. Headley ,  Dustin R. Reynolds

IPC: G01F1/64 ,  G01F15/02

Abstract: An apparatus includes a tube, first and second pairs of electrodes, a reference device, and a processor. The processor determines a speed of a fluid traveling between the first and second pairs of electrodes and determines a reference conductance of the fluid using the reference device. The processor also determines a measured conductance of the fluid using at least one of the first and second pairs of electrodes and determines, based on the reference conductance and the measured conductance, a cross-sectional area of the fluid at an electrode. The processor further adds a correction factor to the determined speed to produce a bulk speed of the fluid. The processor further determines a volumetric flow rate of the fluid based on the bulk speed and the determined area and determines a volume of the fluid based on the determined volumetric flow rate.

公开(公告)号：US10285378B2

公开(公告)日：2019-05-14

申请号：US15009297

申请日：2016-01-28

Applicant: Technologies Holdings Corp.

Inventor： Bradley A. Schaller ,  Robert J. Godfrey

IPC: A01J5/02 ,  A01J5/08

Abstract: A milking cup comprising a body having a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion has a first lip formed thereon and the bottom portion has a second lip formed thereon. The first lip and the second lip are separated by a distance. The milking cup further comprises a rotating shell positioned between and secured by the first lip and the second lip, wherein the rotating shell encircles the body and is operable to rotate around the body independently of the movement of the other portions of the body. The rotating shell has a length that corresponds to the distance between the first lip and the second lip.

公开(公告)号：US20190045737A1

公开(公告)日：2019-02-14

申请号：US15675186

申请日：2017-08-11

Applicant: Technologies Holdings Corp.

Inventor： John Seehafer ,  Todd Willfahrt

IPC: A01J5/017 ,  A01J5/04 ,  A01J5/16 ,  A01J5/007

CPC classification number: A01J5/017 ,  A01J5/007 ,  A01J5/042 ,  A01J5/16

Abstract: A milking system includes an assembly, a controller, and a milking cluster configured to attach to one or more teats of a livestock. The assembly includes a clevis, a piston, a pulley system, and a sensor. The clevis includes a first member, a second member, a base member, and a cylinder. The cylinder is coupled to the base member. The piston is positioned at least partially within the cylinder, and is configured to move within the cylinder. The pulley system of the assembly includes a cord configured to be coupled to the milking cluster. The assembly includes a sensor configured to generate a displacement signal in response to detecting that a portion of the clevis is within a predefined distance of the sensor.

公开(公告)号：US10143179B2

公开(公告)日：2018-12-04

申请号：US14663072

申请日：2015-03-19

Applicant: TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS, CORP.

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

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

Abstract: A robotic attacher comprises a main arm, a supplemental arm coupled to the main arm, and a gripping portion coupled to the supplemental arm. The supplemental arm moves in an x-direction and a y-direction. The gripping portion moves in a first z-direction in relation to the supplemental arm. The gripping portion also moves in a second z-direction opposite the first z-direction in relation to the supplemental arm.

公开(公告)号：US20180192607A1

公开(公告)日：2018-07-12

申请号：US15910461

申请日：2018-03-02

Applicant: Technologies Holdings Corp.

Inventor： Mark A. Foresman ,  Bradley J. Prevost

IPC: A01J5/007 ,  G06T7/50 ,  G06T7/13 ,  A01J5/017 ,  G06T7/33 ,  G06K9/46 ,  G06K9/62 ,  G06T7/246 ,  G06K9/00

CPC classification number: A01J5/007 ,  A01J5/017 ,  G06K9/00362 ,  G06K9/46 ,  G06K9/6215 ,  G06K9/623 ,  G06T7/001 ,  G06T7/0044 ,  G06T7/0046 ,  G06T7/0057 ,  G06T7/0085 ,  G06T7/13 ,  G06T7/251 ,  G06T7/33 ,  G06T7/50 ,  G06T7/521 ,  G06T7/74 ,  G06T7/75 ,  G06T2207/10028 ,  G06T2207/30204

Abstract: A system that includes a laser configured to generate a profile signal of at least a portion of a dairy livestock and a processor. The processor is configured to obtain the profile signal and detect one or more edge pair candidates in the profile signal, compare the complementary distance gradients of each of the one or more edge pair candidates to a minimum distance gradient length to be considered an edge pair, and identify an edge pair from among the one or more edge pair candidates as a teat candidate based on the comparison. The processor is further configured to determine position information for the teat candidate.

公开(公告)号：US20180116164A1

公开(公告)日：2018-05-03

申请号：US15855355

申请日：2017-12-27

Applicant: Technologies Holdings Corp.

Inventor： Rafael A. Fematt ,  Jacob R. Wilmott

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

CPC classification number: A01J5/048 ,  A01J5/01 ,  A01J5/044 ,  F16K31/0675 ,  F16K31/082 ,  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：US09930878B2

公开(公告)日：2018-04-03

申请号：US14934215

申请日：2015-11-06

Applicant: Technologies Holdings Corp.

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

IPC: A01M1/20 ,  A01M1/24 ,  E04B1/72 ,  F25B27/02 ,  F25B49/02 ,  F24H4/00 ,  F24H4/02 ,  F24H4/04 ,  F24H4/06 ,  F25B30/00 ,  F25B30/02 ,  F25B30/06 ,  F24H3/00 ,  F24H9/00 ,  F28D1/02 ,  F28D1/047 ,  F25B3/00

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, comprises positioning a heat pump unit within an affected area of the structure, coupling a first end of an inlet hose to a faucet, and coupling a second end of the inlet hose to an inlet port of the heat pump unit. The inlet port supplies a flow of water received from the faucet to an evaporator component of the heat pump unit. The evaporator component transfers heat from the flow of water to a refrigerant and communicate the refrigerant to a condenser component of the heat pump unit. The condenser component generates heated air by transferring heat from the refrigerant fluid to air flowing through the condenser component. The heated air i emitted into the affected area in order to raise the temperature of the affected area to a target temperature greater than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

公开(公告)号：US20180054999A1

公开(公告)日：2018-03-01

申请号：US15249646

申请日：2016-08-29

Applicant: Technologies Holdings Corp.

Inventor： Robert J. Godfrey ,  Bradley A. Schaller

IPC: A01J5/017 ,  A01J7/00 ,  B25J19/02

CPC classification number: A01J5/0175 ,  A01J5/08 ,  A01J7/00 ,  A01J7/04 ,  B25J19/022 ,  G05B2219/45113

Abstract: A system comprising a robotic arm, a plurality of grabbers, a sensor, and a preparation cup. The robotic arm has a first end and a recessed portion. The grabbers are coupled to the robotic arm at the first end. The sensor is positioned inside the recessed portion of the robotic arm at a first distance from the first end and at a first angle. The preparation cup is coupled to wings having a body portion, a first extended portion, and a second extended portion. The body portion is coupled to a portion of the preparation cup, the first extended portion extends in a first direction and the second extended portion extends in a second direction. The wings are operable to be magnetically coupled to the plurality of grabbers via the first and second extended portions.

公开(公告)号：US20180054998A1

公开(公告)日：2018-03-01

申请号：US15800234

申请日：2017-11-01

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 comprises a movable arm having a length in a longitudinal direction, and at least one gripper swivably mounted to the movable arm such that it moves between a first position parallel to the movable arm's longitudinal direction and a second position at which the gripper extends sideways in a horizontal plane away from the movable arm's longitudinal direction.

公开(公告)号：US20180049396A1

公开(公告)日：2018-02-22

申请号：US15455382

申请日：2017-03-10

Applicant: Technologies Holdings Corp.

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

IPC: A01J5/007 ,  A01J5/017 ,  G01B11/24 ,  B25J19/02

Abstract: A system includes a robotic arm, a laser, and a processor. The processor is configured to determine that a teat cup is to be attached to a front teat of a dairy livestock, and in response, determine an amount of separation between the front teat and a rear teat. The processor is further configured to calculate, if the amount of separation between the front and rear teats is greater than or equal to a predetermined distance, an updated front teat position based on the amount of separation between the front and rear teats and command the robotic arm to move to the updated front teat position. The processor is further configure to determine whether the front teat is found in a scan of the dairy livestock by the laser, and if so, command the robotic arm to attach the teat cup to the front teat.