公开(公告)号：US10143178B2

公开(公告)日：2018-12-04

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 ,  A01J5/04 ,  A01K1/12

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：US09980459B2

公开(公告)日：2018-05-29

申请号：US15289446

申请日：2016-10-10

Applicant: TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS CORP.

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

IPC: A01J5/017 ,  A01J5/003 ,  A01K1/12 ,  B25J9/10 ,  B25J9/04

CPC classification number: A01J5/0175 ,  A01K1/12 ,  B25J9/04 ,  B25J9/045 ,  B25J9/104 ,  Y10S901/14 ,  Y10S901/19 ,  Y10S901/21 ,  Y10S901/29 ,  Y10S901/31

Abstract: A robotic attacher includes a main arm that is suspended vertically from a rail, and a supplemental arm that is coupled to and extends horizontally from the main arm along a longitudinal axis. The supplemental arm includes a pivot assembly that pivots a gripping portion around a vertical axis that is substantially parallel to the main arm of the robotic attacher, in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the supplemental arm, and between at least a maximum-left position, a maximum-right position, and a centered position. The pivot assembly includes a first actuator that extends and retracts a first cable coupled to a left side of the gripping portion in order to pivot the gripping portion. The pivot assembly further includes a second actuator that extends and retracts a second cable coupled to a right side of the gripping portion in order to pivot the gripping portion.

公开(公告)号：US09930862B2

公开(公告)日：2018-04-03

申请号：US15332029

申请日：2016-10-24

Applicant: TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS CORP.

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

IPC: A01J7/00 ,  A01J5/013 ,  A01J3/00 ,  A01J5/007 ,  A01J5/01 ,  A01J5/04

CPC classification number: A01J7/005 ,  A01J3/00 ,  A01J5/007 ,  A01J5/01 ,  A01J5/013 ,  A01J5/0133 ,  A01J5/0135 ,  A01J5/0138 ,  A01J5/04

Abstract: A method comprises receiving a flow of milk at an inlet of a manifold. The inlet comprises a first end coupled to a hose that receives a flow of milk from a teat cup and a second end terminating in a chamber of the manifold. The manifold comprises one or more other inlets and a plurality of outlets. The plurality of outlets includes one or more milk collector outlets and one or more drain outlets. The method proceeds by causing the flow of milk to be directed to a corresponding milk collector outlet by causing a shut-off valve corresponding to the inlet to open, and by causing a drain valve corresponding to the inlet to close. The method concludes by causing the flow of milk to be directed to a corresponding drain outlet by causing the drain valve corresponding to the inlet to open.

公开(公告)号：US09894875B2

公开(公告)日：2018-02-20

申请号：US14728033

申请日：2015-06-02

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 frame that is movable along a guide track that is positioned adjacent to a rotary platform such that the frame can move in conjunction with the movement of the rotary platform. The milking robot further comprises a moveable arm having a first end that couples to the frame and a second end that extends in a longitudinal direction, and at least one gripper coupled to the movable arm at the second end. The gripper is extendable in the longitudinal direction of the movable arm.

公开(公告)号：US09888664B2

公开(公告)日：2018-02-13

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 ,  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 ,  B25J9/00 ,  H04N7/18

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：US20170295749A1

公开(公告)日：2017-10-19

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: A01K1/12 ,  A01J5/00 ,  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：US20170251624A1

公开(公告)日：2017-09-07

申请号：US15602568

申请日：2017-05-23

Applicant: TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS CORP.

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

IPC: A01J7/04 ,  A01K13/00 ,  A01K29/00 ,  A01K1/12 ,  G06T7/00 ,  B25J11/00 ,  A01J5/003 ,  A01J5/007 ,  A01J5/017 ,  G06T1/00 ,  A01J7/00 ,  G06T7/73 ,  G06T7/13 ,  H04N7/18 ,  B25J9/00 ,  B25J9/16

Abstract: A system for operating a robotic arm comprises a carriage, a controller communicatively coupled to the carriage and a robotic arm coupled to the carriage. The carriage is mounted on a track adjacent to a rotary milking platform having a stall for a dairy livestock. The carriage moves along the track in a direction corresponding to a direction of rotation of the rotary milking platform. The controller determines a rate for the carriage to move along the track based at least in part upon a speed of rotation of the rotary milking platform. The robotic arm extends between the legs of the dairy livestock.

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.