Abstract:
An apparatus comprises an air inlet configured to receive an inlet airflow. The inlet airflow comprises a process airflow and a bypass airflow. An evaporator unit receives a flow of refrigerant and is cools the process airflow by facilitating heat transfer from the process airflow to the flow of refrigerant. A condenser unit receives the flow of refrigerant and (1) reheats the process airflow by facilitating heat transfer from the flow of refrigerant to the process airflow, and (2) heats the bypass airflow by facilitating heat transfer from the flow of refrigerant to the bypass airflow. The process airflow is discharged via a process airflow outlet and the bypass airflow is discharged via a bypass airflow outlet.
Abstract:
A method for operating a robotic arm comprises determining a speed of rotation of a rotary milking platform, the rotary milking platform having a stall for a dairy livestock. The method further includes moving a carriage along a track positioned adjacent to the rotary milking platform at a rate that is based at least in part upon the determined speed of rotation of the rotary milking platform. The method further includes extending a robotic arm that is coupled to the carriage between the legs of the dairy livestock.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a gripper (2), robot arm (4) and milking machine provided therewith, and method for arranging teat cups (6, 8) in automatic manner on teats of an udder of an animal for milking. The gripper according to the invention comprises: —a fixation part (10, 12) for holding at least one teat cup; and—transport means (14, 16) for positioning the teat cup in the gripper relative to the at least one fixation part.
Abstract:
In an exemplary embodiment, a system includes a milking cup, a pulsating device coupled to the milking cup, a robotic arm comprising a gripper, and a controller communicatively coupled to the robotic arm and the pulsating device. The controller is operable to instruct the gripper of the robotic arm to grip the milking cup, instruct the robotic arm to move the milking cup proximate to a teat of a dairy livestock, and instruct the robotic arm to move the milking cup towards the teat. The controller is further operable to instruct the pulsating device to apply pressure to the milking cup before attaching the milking cup to the teat and instruct the gripper of the robotic arm to release the milking cup.
Abstract:
A robotic attacher retrieves a preparation cup from the left side of an equipment area located behind a dairy livestock and 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.
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.
Abstract:
A milking box comprises a stall portion and a backplane positioned in the stall portion. The backplane moves toward the rear of the stall portion in response to pressure applied to a contact surface of the backplane. The backplane moves toward the front of stall portion in response to pressure removed from the contact surface. A robotic attacher extends from the rear of the stall portion and between the hind legs of a dairy livestock located in the stall portion. A controller determines the position of the backplane relative to the rear of the stall portion. The controller determines an x-offset based at least in part upon the position of the backplane relative to the rear of the stall portion, wherein the x-offset increases as the dairy livestock moves toward the front of the stall and the x-offset decreases as the dairy livestock moves toward the rear of the stall. The controller further communicates a signal to move the robotic attacher in an x-direction, the amount of movement determined at least in part according to the x-offset.
Abstract:
A method for controlling a crowd gate comprises operating a milking parlor for a plurality of dairy livestock. The milking parlor comprises an entrance located adjacent to a holding pen, and a crowd gate that forms a side of the holding pen and moves toward and away from the entrance to the milking parlor. The method further comprises determining that dairy livestock should enter the milking parlor, and operating the crowd gate in response to determining that dairy livestock should enter the milking parlor. Operating the crowd gate comprises moving the crowd gate away from the entrance to the milking parlor prior to initiating movement towards the entrance, pausing the movement of the crowd gate, and moving the crowd gate towards the entrance of the milking parlor.
Abstract:
In certain embodiments, a system includes a front wall, a rear wall positioned substantially parallel to the front wall, and first and second side walls each extending between the front wall and the rear wall. The first side wall includes a gate, and the second side wall is spaced apart from the first side wall such that the front wall, the rear wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall define a milking box stall of a size sufficient to accommodate a dairy livestock. The system includes an equipment portion located adjacent to the rear wall. The equipment portion houses a robotic attacher configured to extend between the rear legs of a dairy livestock located within the milking box stall in order to attach milking equipment to the dairy livestock.