In the context of a robotic milking system (1) comprising a robotic milking device (10) with, inter alia, a stimulation system (18) for stimulating the teats (42) of the dairy animals (40), a method for controlling the robotic milking system is provided. Teat base measurements are performed for each of the dairy animals using a teat position-determining system (14) of the robotic milking device (10). For each teat base measurement, distance information which is representative of a distance between the respective teat base (43) of two teats (42) of the dairy animal is then determined and presented to a memory (21) of a data-processing digital system (20) to be recorded. In addition, at least one decision value is determined using the digital system in a data-processing action in distance information recorded in the memory, and at least one milking-related decision is generated in the robotic milking device with regard to at least one of the dairy animals from the group of dairy animals on the basis of the decision value.
An animal farm system comprising: an autonomous agricultural vehicle adapted to perform an animal related action related to at least one of cleaning up and providing feed in an agricultural operating 5 area, comprising at least one drive wheel under the control of a control device, for controlling the at least one wheel to move the vehicle in accordance with control signals that are based on a pre-planned trajectory and a vehicle communication device; a data processing system comprising a memory and a processor adapted for carrying out a method comprising:0 - receiving input defining an initial trajectory, forming a rough path, discretized as a list of instantaneous vehicle states defined by trajectory parameters comprising a vehicle position in the agricultural operating area and an associated velocity; - obtaining trajectory constraints the trajectory constraints comprising of5 vehicle driving limitations, navigation safety constraints, and a task objective; - calculating an optimized trajectory, based on the initial trajectory through an optimization-based method using a cost function comprising mathematical expressions based on signal temporal logic representing the trajectory 0 constraints to determine a level of optimization with respect to the trajectory constraints; and - outputting the optimized trajectory the data processing system further being adapted for being operably connectable to a user interface system and for sending the output optimized trajectory to the control 5 device via the vehicle communication device, to be stored as the pre-planned trajectory.
A milking system with two or more milking devices and a central cleaning unit. The milking system also has a buffer unit, with two tanks, that receives and temporarily stores fluids. The buffer unit is connected to a bulk milk storage system through a milk transport system with a milk transport line. During a first cleaning stage, a first cleaning liquid runs through a cleaning liquid transport line to the milking devices, and a valve system allows the first cleaning liquid's first flow from one of the milking devices to be collected in the first buffer tank and a milk flow from the other milking device to the second buffer tank. During a second cleaning stage, the first cleaning liquid's second flow from the first buffer tank through the milk transport line cleans part of the milk transport system.
A feeding system for feeding animals, such as cows, comprises an autonomous feeding device with a container for receiving a batch of feed. The container has a maximum feed load. A feed-quantity measuring device measures the quantity of feed that is available for consumption by the animals at the feeding places. A control system first determines which feeding places have a feed requirement on the basis of a feeding criterion and the measured quantity of feed at the feeding places. The control system provides a combined feeding task list of one or more feeding tasks to be carried out by the feeding device with a batch of feed received in the container. Each feeding task comprises a quantity of feed to be dispensed for a feeding place. The control system begins with a first feeding task for a first feeding place with a feed requirement. The control system then adds one or more further feeding tasks for further feeding places with a feed requirement to the combined feeding task list without the maximum feed load being exceeded. If at least one additional feeding task for an additional feeding place with a feed requirement then exceeds the maximum feed load, the control system adds this additional feeding task to the combined feeding task list if this prevents a small batch of feed being produced in a subsequent feeding run. In this case, the quantities of feed of the combined feeding task list are reduced such that they fit in the container of the feeding device.
METHOD OF PREDICTING ROUTE FAILURE FOR AN AUTONOMOUS AGRICULTURAL VEHICLE ADAPTED TO PERFORM AN ANIMAL RELATED ACTION IN AN ANIMAL-RELATED SPACE AND ANIMAL FARM SYSTEM COMPRISING AN AUTONOMOUS AGRICULTURAL VEHICLE AND PROCESSSOR ADAPTED FOR CARRYING OUT THE METHOD
Method of predicting route failure for an autonomous agricultural vehicle adapted to perform an animal related action related to at least one of cleaning up and providing feed in an animal-related space, wherein the vehicle is arranged to drive at least one pre-planned route in order to perform the animal related action and an animal farm system comprising an autonomous agricultural vehicle adapted to perform the animal related action comprising at least one drive wheel under the control of a control device, for controlling the at least one wheel to move the vehicle in accordance with control signals that are based on a pre-planned route, and at least one of a drive sensor system adapted to collect vehicle driving data and a localization sensor for collecting data related to localization of the vehicle within the animal-related space and a vehicle communication device; and a processor arranged to receive data collected by the vehicle drive sensor system and/or localization sensor via the vehicle communication device and comprising a memory containing a computer program having instructions which, when the program is executed, carry out the method.
G01C 21/00 - NavigationNavigational instruments not provided for in groups
G05D 1/646 - Following a predefined trajectory, e.g. a line marked on the floor or a flight path
G05D 101/15 - Details of software or hardware architectures used for the control of position using artificial intelligence [AI] techniques using machine learning, e.g. neural networks
G05D 105/10 - Specific applications of the controlled vehicles for cleaning, vacuuming or polishing
G05D 105/50 - Specific applications of the controlled vehicles for animal husbandry or control, e.g. catching, trapping or scaring of animals
A feed-mixing wagon or other device for mixing and/or cutting feed for animals, such as cows, comprises a container for accommodating feed. An auger is arranged in the container, and rotatable and drivable for mixing and/or cutting feed accommodated in the container. The auger comprises a core body, and an auger flight which extends around the core body, in particular helical. The auger flight comprises a plurality of curved auger flight parts which are attached to the core body and to each other. The auger is manufactured by means of a manufacturing method which comprises (i) casting the auger flight parts, and (ii) attaching the cast auger flight parts to the core body and to each other.
B01F 27/9212 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptaclesKneaders with stirrers rotating about a substantially vertical axis with helices or screws with helices centrally mounted in the receptacle with conical helices
7.
METHOD FOR APPLYING AT LEAST ONE WEAR EDGE TO AN AUGER FLIGHT, DEVICE FOR MIXING AND/OR CUTTING FEED, AND FEEDING SYSTEM
A feed-mixing wagon or other device for mixing and/or cutting feed for animals, such as cows, comprises a container for receiving feed. An auger is arranged in the container and is rotatable and driveable for mixing and/or cutting feed received in the container. The auger comprises a core body and an auger flight which extends around the core body, in particular in a helical manner. The auger flight is provided with an inner edge, which is attached to the core body, and a free outer edge opposite the inner edge. A wear edge is applied to the auger flight by forming a thickened edge on the outer edge of the auger flight. The thickened edge is formed by welding welding material on the outer edge of the auger flight.
B01F 27/9212 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptaclesKneaders with stirrers rotating about a substantially vertical axis with helices or screws with helices centrally mounted in the receptacle with conical helices
B01F 27/052 - Stirrers with replaceable wearing elementsWearing elements therefor
8.
SEPARATION-MILK-COLLECTING SYSTEM, AND MILKING SYSTEM PROVIDED THEREWITH
A separation-milk-collecting system includes a supply for connecting to a milking device and for receiving separation milk therefrom, a milk container for separation milk, a line which is fluidically connected to the supply and which has a movable outflow opening, an actuator device for settable movement of the outflow opening at least to above one of the milk containers, and a control unit. The separation-milk-collecting system is furthermore provided with a cleaning device for the line, which includes a compressed-air device to blow compressed air through the line at a pressure and/or flow rate settable by the control unit. A milking system with such a separation-milk-collecting system is also provided.
A livestock animal management system includes a livestock shed with a livestock space for livestock animals, a feed fence provided in the livestock shed with a plurality of feed fence positions where the livestock animals are able to eat animal feed through the feed fence, a livestock animal locating system for determining and monitoring positions of the livestock animals in the livestock shed, and a control device which is connected to the livestock animal locating system for receiving and processing the positions. The control device is configured for generating an animal alarm if the position of a livestock animal remains within a distance threshold of one of the feed fence positions for at least a time threshold.
A method is provided for capturing and discharging pre-milk in a milking device which comprises a milking cup, a vacuum system, a milking glass and a controller. The milking cup comprises a cup sleeve and therein a liner, therein a teat space with a cup milk outflow opening, a milk capture chamber connected thereto with a chamber milk outflow opening and a chamber vacuum opening, and a milk transport line with a milk discharge valve. The vacuum system comprises a vacuum source with a pulsation line, a milking vacuum line at the chamber vacuum opening and a ventilation valve, and a milking glass vacuum line connected to the milking glass. The vacuum system applies a pulsation vacuum, a milking vacuum in the milking vacuum line, and a milk transport vacuum in the milk line. The method comprises connecting the milking cup, milking first milk jets from the teat, ventilating the pulsation space, opening the milk discharge valve and ventilating the milk capture chamber by opening the ventilation valve. Because of the great pressure difference between the milk transport vacuum and ambient pressure during ventilation of the milk capture chamber, the pre-milk is blown out by force from the milk capture chamber. Also a milking device for the method is provided.
There is provided a milking device (1) with milking cups (5). The milking cup comprises a cup housing (20) and a teat lining (21) which define a pulsation space (25) and a teat space (22) with a teat opening (23) and a cup milk discharge opening (24). The milking cup has a chamber (29) for milk/air separation which extends downwards from the cup milk discharge opening, and a chamber milk supply opening (27) and a chamber milk discharge opening (32), as well as a separate chamber air discharge opening (31) above the chamber milk discharge opening. The milking device furthermore has a milk-collecting vessel (11) for temporarily storing the milk of one milking operation, with a vessel milk supply opening (51) and a milking hose (9) which runs from the latter to the chamber milk discharge opening, and with a vessel air discharge opening (50), and a vacuum device for setting a pulsation vacuum Vp for the pulsation space, a milking vacuum Vm for the chamber, and a transport vacuum Vt for the milk-collecting vessel. In this case, it is true that Vp < Vm < Vt. Due to the milk/air separation in the chamber, the milking vacuum is readily controllable. As a result thereof, the pulsation vacuum may be selected to be smaller than or equal to the milking vacuum, as a result of which no ballooning of or vacuum leak occurs at the teat lining.
There is provided a milking device (1) comprising milking cups (5). The milking cup comprises a cup housing (20), a teat lining (21) which surrounds a teat space (22) with a cup milk discharge opening (24), a pulsation space (25), and a chamber (29) for receiving the milk obtained and for separating milk and air. The chamber has a milk supply opening (27) which is in liquid communication with the cup milk discharge opening, and a chamber milk discharge opening (32), and a separate chamber air discharge opening (31) which is situated above the chamber milk discharge opening. The milking device furthermore has a control unit (12), a milk-collecting vessel (11) for temporarily accommodating the milk of one milking operation, a milking hose (9) between the chamber milk discharge opening and the milk-collecting vessel, and a controllable vacuum device (6) configured to apply a pulsation vacuum Vp to the pulsation space, a milking vacuum Vm to the chamber, and a transport vacuum Vt to the milk-collecting vessel. The vacuum device is configured for setting the transport vacuum Vt as a function of a milking parameter. Due to the milk/air separation, the transport vacuum is independent from the milking vacuum. Due to the adjustability of the transport vacuum, the milking operation can be adjusted in a more satisfactory manner to the desire for an optimum milking operation.
A milking robot (1) for dairy animals is provided, said milking robot being equipped with milking means (3), a robotic arm (2) for connecting the milking means, a detection device (4) for determining teat positions, and a controller (10). The detection device comprises a first source (16) for the emission of broadband light, in particular white light, into a solid angle and an optical camera (17) for capturing images with the emitted light. The controller is configured to control a behaviour of emission of said broadband light depending on a criterion which at least determines that the controller increases the light intensity emitted by the first source, at least into part of said solid angle, only at a predetermined minimum ambient illumination. This prevents the dairy animals from being disturbed by flickering light in dark conditions. On the other hand, the additional light ensures more reliable images if the environment itself is already (to some extent) light, and the animals are therefore no longer disturbed as a result.
In a robotic milking device (1), positions of the teats (8) of a dairy animal are determined for automatically attaching milking cups to the teats. This is performed by projecting a light beam onto the teats by means of a projection system (9) and detecting light originating from the projection system and reflected by the teats using a detection system (17), and subsequently interpreting the detection. In the robotic milking device, the detected light serves an additional function, namely constructing a digital teat model for each of the teats containing information about the width profile of the teat across the height of the teat. By using the data which the detection system supplies, the digital teat model can be obtained without this having consequences for the basic set-up of the robotic milking device or the progress of a milking operation.
A robot milking system, including: at least one milking box; milking apparatus; a robot arm configured to connect the milking apparatus to a milking animal; an animal recognition device configured to automatically determine an identity of the milking animal; a control system configured to control the robot milking system; and a positioning aid configured to determine a position of the milking animal in the milking box, where: the positioning aid is movable by the control system between an inactive state away from the milking animal and an active state up against the milking animal, the positioning aid is in the active state at least when the milking apparatus is connected to the milking animal, and the control system is configured to bring the positioning aid into the active state as a function of the identity determined by the animal recognition device.
An animal farm system comprising: an autonomous agricultural vehicle for performing an animal related action in an operating area, comprising at least one drive wheel under the control of a control device, arranged to control the at least one wheel to move the vehicle in accordance with control signals based on a route using a drive sensor system and at least one distance sensor to monitor a pose of the vehicle along the route with respect to a normal driving direction of the vehicle; and a data processing system comprising a processor programmed to carry out a method for generating a route, the method for generating the route comprising: - forming a computational representation of the agricultural operating area, comprising coordinates relating to boundaries of the agricultural operating area; - receiving user-input defining at least one displacement for the autonomous agricultural vehicle in the agricultural operating area, forming a list of route datapoints corresponding to associated vehicle poses in the agricultural operating area along the at least one displacement; - determining for the at least one displacement a risk of colliding with a boundary of the agricultural operating area by simulating the at least one displacement of the vehicle in the agricultural operating space; and - relaying the risk.
Computer-implemented method for generating a route for an autonomous agricultural vehicle in an agricultural space, such as a livestock space, the method comprising: - forming a computational graph based on map data comprising coordinates relating to boundaries of the agricultural space; - obtaining vehicle data of the autonomous agricultural vehicle, the vehicle data comprising at least a length and a width of the autonomous agricultural vehicle defining a vehicle outline thereof with respect to a central point and a normal forward moving direction; - receiving input defining at least one displacement for execution by the autonomous agricultural vehicle within the agricultural space having an end pose with respect to a start pose; - determining a sequence of two or more route datapoints within the computational graph, comprising a route datapoint corresponding to the start pose and a route datapoint corresponding to the end pose; - determining for the at least one displacement a risk of colliding with one of said boundaries of the agricultural space impacting completion of the displacement by simulating said at least one displacement using the vehicle data; and - relaying the risk.
The present invention relates to an animal husbandry system, wherein a group of animals can move about freely in an area, the system comprising identification means configured for determining the identity of each individual animal, tracking means configured for tracking the position of each individual animal, and attention means configured for identifying an attention animal having a predetermined condition, wherein the system is configured for automatically determining a subgroup of animals that have been in a predetermined relationship with the attention animal. The determination of such a subgroup is highly useful. For example, it can be established whether the animals in the subgroup also have the predetermined condition of the attention animal. This is helpful in order to be able to contain the spreading of the predetermined condition, if this is desired.
03 - Cosmetics and toiletries; cleaning, bleaching, polishing and abrasive preparations
05 - Pharmaceutical, veterinary and sanitary products
07 - Machines and machine tools
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Detergents, cleaning agents and soaps for use in the milk
production and processing industry and dairy farming. Hygienic products, disinfectants and pharmaceutical products
for veterinary use, in particular udder care products and
claw care products; medicinal and non-medicinal nutritional
supplements for animal feed diets. Agricultural machines; stable care machines and robots
[machines]; feeding machines and robots [machines] intended
for feeding livestock; milking machines; milk extraction
machines and robots [machines]; parts for the aforementioned
goods not included in other classes; milking machines with
integrated control unit, milking organs, collectors, milk
meters, vacuum connections and couplings, sold as a unit;
automatic feeding and milking installations for animals,
parts and components therefor, as far as included in this
class; vacuum pumps [machines]; robotic harvesters; cleaning
machines and robots [machines] for removing, moving and
changing straw, sawdust and/or other stable floor coverings;
machine-driven or robotic manure scrapers and manure
scraping installations; electric rinsing, washing and
cleaning equipment and/or instruments to be used in the
context of cleaning stables, stable floors or stable
surfaces; cattle brushes, electrically powered brushes;
manure processing equipment for treating manure and parts
thereof; manure presses. Switching, control and monitoring equipment for stable
lighting; light switches, dimmers and electrical wiring for
stable lighting; computer programs, including application
software for smartphones and tablets, for monitoring and
controlling livestock herds, livestock farming machinery,
namely, computer programs, including application software
for feeding machines, milking machines, machines for
cleaning stable floor coverings and for electronic equipment
for controlling the stable environment.
A milking system for sampling and analysing milk includes a milking device, a sampling device to extract a milk sample, and an analysis device for the sample. The analysis device includes a cassette with an analysis tape having a carrier layer with separate vertical flow analysis pads, a tape displacer, a sample provision device providing a droplet of the sample to a selected analysis pad, a sensor to sense a response in the analysis pad after provision of the sample, and a control unit. The analysis pads include a reagent pad with a reagent reacting with a predetermined compound in the sample, a priming pad with a priming agent to change a property of the sample that enhances the reaction, and a bonding layer between the reagent pad and the priming pad, and including a first and second adhesive layer, and a support layer therebetween.
A01J 5/013 - On-site detection of mastitis in milk
B32B 3/26 - Layered products comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar shapeLayered products comprising a layer having particular features of form characterised by a particular shape of the outline of the cross-section of a continuous layerLayered products comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar shapeLayered products comprising a layer having particular features of form characterised by a layer with cavities or internal voids
B32B 7/12 - Interconnection of layers using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
B32B 27/06 - Layered products essentially comprising synthetic resin as the main or only constituent of a layer next to another layer of a specific substance
B32B 37/12 - Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding characterised by using adhesives
B32B 37/20 - Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding characterised by the properties of the layers with all layers existing as coherent layers before laminating involving the assembly of continuous webs only
B32B 38/00 - Ancillary operations in connection with laminating processes
G01N 21/78 - Systems in which material is subjected to a chemical reaction, the progress or the result of the reaction being investigated by observing the effect on a chemical indicator producing a change of colour
Autonomous manure removal vehicle adapted for removing manure from a floor of an animal space, comprising: - at least two wheels, at least one electric motor device for driving at least one of the at least to wheels, and a control device for controlling the manure removal vehicle in at least a cleaning mode and a dumping mode, - a manure storage tank comprising a bottom provided with at least one opening for supply of manure to and/or discharge of manure from the tank and an upper part provided with an air exchange opening for the exchange of air between the interior of the tank and ambient air, and - a manure loading system adapted for moving manure from the floor into the tank when the vehicle is controlled to operate in the cleaning mode, characterised in that, the vehicle further is adapted to, when the vehicle is controlled to operate in the dumping mode, generate a forced airflow into the tank via the air exchange opening, causing an over-pressure inside the tank.
Autonomous feed pusher having a body (13) and a navigation sensor (14) on a longitudinal connecting element (12) which extends above the body in an operating position (13), wherein the navigation sensor is deflectable against a collision force. The connecting element is connected to the body (13) such that it is pivotable around a pivot axis (15) and is deflectable against the collision force through a movement around the pivot axis. Autonomous feed pusher having a body and a navigation sensor on a longitudinal connecting element which extends above the body in an operating position, characterised in that the navigation sensor is deflectable against a collision force. The connecting element is connected to the body such that it is pivotable around a pivot axis and is deflectable against the collision force through a movement around the pivot axis.
A method is provided for coupling a mobile device to a robot device on a livestock farm. The mobile device has an NFC chip device, and the robot device is for animal-related operations and has a robot control system. The method comprises providing an external, programmable NFC chip, using the mobile device to open an app store or website having a downloadable robot control program for the robot device, downloading and starting the robot control program, and also establishing a connection between the mobile device and the robot device, detecting robot devices within a connection range, and selecting the robot device and, if necessary, logging in to it. By scanning the external NFC chip again with the mobile device, the NFC chip is automatically programmed by the robot control program with generated fill-in instructions and data which, in the event of a subsequent NFC contact with the mobile device, automatically start the robot control program and establish the active connection. A livestock farm and a robot control program for the method are also provided.
H04W 4/30 - Services specially adapted for particular environments, situations or purposes
H04W 4/80 - Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Agricultural machines; cleaning machines, robots and systems
for removing, moving and refreshing straw, sawdust and/or
other ground covering material for cattle housing floors;
power-driven or robotized manure scrapings and manure
scraping installations; electric equipment and devices for
rinsing, washing and cleaning to be used for the cleaning of
stables, stable floors or cattle surfaces; parts of the
aforementioned goods, not included in other classes. Measuring, regulating, monitoring and controlling apparatus
and instruments to be used in connection with agricultural
machines, cleaning machines, robots and systems for
removing, moving and refreshing straw, sawdust and/or other
ground covering material for cattle housing floors,
power-driven or robotized manure scrapings and manure
scraping installations, electric equipment and devices for
rinsing, washing and cleaning to be used for the cleaning of
stables, stable floors or cattle surfaces, parts of the
aforementioned goods; parts of the aforementioned goods not
included in other classes; electronic equipment and
programmes for processing and/or storing and/or presenting
data to be used in connection with agricultural machines,
cleaning machines, robots and systems for removing, moving
and refreshing straw, sawdust and/or other ground covering
material for cattle housing floors, power-driven or
robotized manure scrapings and manure scraping
installations, electric equipment and devices for rinsing,
washing and cleaning to be used for the cleaning of stables,
stable floors or cattle surfaces; parts of the
aforementioned goods not included in other classes.
01 - Chemical and biological materials for industrial, scientific and agricultural use
05 - Pharmaceutical, veterinary and sanitary products
Goods & Services
Chemicals, in particular Chemicals for use in agriculture; Chemicals for the production of cleaning preparations, disinfectants and care preparations for animals. Sanitary preparations for animals, in particular Udder care preparations.
26.
DEVICE FOR PICKING UP SOILING MATTER FROM A FLOOR OF AN ANIMAL SPACE
A device for picking up soiling matter, such as pats or pieces of fecal matter, from a floor of an animal space, the device having a longitudinal axis defining a normal forward moving direction of the device, comprising: a cylindrical roller having a cylindrical surface with a central axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and having a relief pattern in the cylindrical surface arranged to be in rolling contact with the floor and pick up soiling matter when rolling over the soiling matter through having a portion of the soiling matter being pressed into the relief pattern, and removal means arranged to remove the soiling matter from a surface of the cylindrical roller, positioned at a predetermined position along the circumference of the cylindrical surface.
Animal husbandry system, wherein a group of animals can roam freely in an area intended therefor, the system comprising a tracking system with automated tracking means configured for repeatedly tracking a plurality of individual animals in the area and in doing so assigning to the individual animals a track comprising tracking position data and tracking identity data, wherein the system is further provided with at least one autonomously movable vehicle which is provided with identification means configured for determining position and/or identity data of an animal and for transmitting said data to the tracking system. The animals can be tracked efficiently and identified accurately in a cheap and simple manner.
A system for use on a farm comprises a self-propelled barn vehicle and a power supply system. The barn vehicle has a frame with means of locomotion which are drivable by an electric motor, and a battery with a battery plug. The power supply system receives electrical energy from an electricity network, transforms it into a charging current, and comprises a power supply unit with a power supply device for said conversion, a power supply inlet for mains current and a power supply output for said charging current, furthermore at least one charging cable, provided with a charging cable input plug and a charging cable output plug, a mains plug cable, a charging point which is arranged in a fixed position with respect to the outside world, with a charging point input and a charging point output with a female battery connector for detachably connecting to said battery plug connection. The power supply unit is movable physically by hand by an operating person. Either the charging cable output plug of said charging cable is detachable from the charging point input and detachably connectable to said battery plug connection, or the charging cable input plug of said first charging cable is detachably connected to the power supply output and there is furthermore a second charging cable which is detachably connectable by its charging cable input plug to the power supply output and is electrically connectable by its charging cable output plug to the battery in order thus to bring about an electrical connection between the power supply output and the battery. In this way, a stalled self-propelled barn vehicle can also be recharged again via a connection other than the charging point, without having to move said vehicle.
A method for milking by means of a milking device (1) comprises receiving and identifying a first dairy animal at a milking station (2), milking said dairy animal, receiving the milked milk in a milking glass (7), and pumping away the milk out of the milking glass in an emptying action until there is still a first residual quantity of milk in the milking glass. It subsequently comprises determining the identity of the next dairy animal to be milked, and if this dairy animal to be milked meets a predetermined condition, prior to milking of this next dairy animal, carrying out an additional pumping action on the milking glass by means of the milk pump (9). The additional emptying of the milking glass under certain conditions makes it possible for the subsequent milk yield to be received in a much purer form. And because it happens only in this circumstance, the milk pump will not always be drawing in too much air. The invention also provides a milking device and a milking system configured to carry out the method.
A milking system with a series of robotic milking devices (2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4) has a cleaning system with a vessel (4) for cleaning liquid, a ring line (3) to and from said vessel, a pump (5) and a control unit (6). Each robotic milking device is fluidically connected to the ring line and can draw off cleaning liquid therefrom. Additionally, there is a parallel line (11) that branches off from the ring line between the pump and the series of robotic milking devices and feeds into the ring line again downstream of the series and upstream of the vessel, and also a flow restriction (15) in the ring line between the feed-in point (13) of the parallel line and the vessel, and a controllable valve (14) for opening and closing the parallel line. The control unit is configured to open said controllable valve if at least one of the robotic milking devices draws off cleaning liquid from the ring line. This allows cleaning liquid to be fed to the robotic milking device from two directions. The restriction in this case ensures sufficiently high flow resistance, and therefore pressure, in the ring line. Thus, even with (very) long ring lines, thorough cleaning can be ensured in a sufficiently reliable manner and without excessive energy consumption.
In a milking system (100), a vacuum system (110) is used which comprises a pipe system (111) with a vacuum supply line (113) and a pump connecting line (114), wherein the milking devices (101) are connected to the vacuum supply line. The vacuum system furthermore comprises at least three vacuum pumping devices (112) which are connected to the pump connecting line and which each comprise a vacuum pump (130). At least two of the vacuum pumping devices also comprise a liquid separation device (140) which is configured to extract liquid from the vacuum system, while at least one of the vacuum pumping devices is without such a liquid separation device. Controlling the vacuum system comprises ensuring that the vacuum pump is always in the active state in at least one of the vacuum pumping devices with a liquid separation device when the vacuum system is in operation, so that active dehumidification of the vacuum system always takes place despite the fact that not all vacuum pumping devices comprise a liquid separation device.
A robotic milking system (1) has at least one robotic milking device (3-1, 3-2), each provided with milking means with milking cups (14), a robot arm for attaching the milking cups to the teats of the dairy animal, and a teat treatment device (7-1, 7-2) for applying a teat treatment agent to the teats. The robotic milking system further comprises a first and a second ingredient container (8, 9) containing ingredients for the teat treatment agent. Each teat treatment device comprises an application device (7-1, 7-2), which is attached to the robot arm or grippable thereby, for the teat treatment agent, a feed line for the teat treatment agent, a first and a second ingredient line (11, 12) from the respective ingredient container to a first (36-1) and, respectively, second connection (36-2) to the feed line (38), each of which is provided with an ingredient metering device (31-1, 31-2) comprising a positive-displacement pump, and a control unit. The connections are closer to the application device than to the respective ingredient containers. This provides a device which is burdened to a lesser extent by the often relatively aggressive teat treatment agent, is safer due to a reduced risk of leakage, is more accurate regarding mixing ratio due to a reduced influence of viscosity differences, and more flexible due to an adjustable mixing ratio.
In a milking system (100), a vacuum system (110) is used which comprises a pipe system (111) with a vacuum supply line (113) and a pump connecting line (114), wherein the milking devices (101) are connected to the vacuum supply line. The vacuum system furthermore comprises at least three vacuum pumping devices (112) which are connected to the pump connecting line and which each comprise a vacuum pump (130). At least two of the vacuum pumping devices also comprise a liquid separation device (140) which is configured to extract liquid from the vacuum system, while at least one of the vacuum pumping devices is without such a liquid separation device. Controlling the vacuum system comprises ensuring that the vacuum pump is always in the active state in at least one of the vacuum pumping devices with a liquid separation device when the vacuum system is in operation, so that active dehumidification of the vacuum system always takes place despite the fact that not all vacuum pumping devices comprise a liquid separation device.
A robotic milking system (1) has at least one robotic milking device (3-1, 3-2), each provided with milking means with milking cups (14), a robot arm for attaching the milking cups to the teats of the dairy animal, and a teat treatment device (7-1, 7-2) for applying a teat treatment agent to the teats. The robotic milking system further comprises a first and a second ingredient container (8, 9) containing ingredients for the teat treatment agent. Each teat treatment device comprises an application device (7-1, 7-2), which is attached to the robot arm or grippable thereby, for the teat treatment agent, a feed line for the teat treatment agent, a first and a second ingredient line (11, 12) from the respective ingredient container to a first (36-1) and, respectively, second connection (36-2) to the feed line (38), each of which is provided with an ingredient metering device (31-1, 31-2) comprising a positive-displacement pump, and a control unit. The connections are closer to the application device than to the respective ingredient containers. This provides a device which is burdened to a lesser extent by the often relatively aggressive teat treatment agent, is safer due to a reduced risk of leakage, is more accurate regarding mixing ratio due to a reduced influence of viscosity differences, and more flexible due to an adjustable mixing ratio.
A robot milking system, including: at least one milking box; milking apparatus; a robot arm configured to connect the milking apparatus to a milking animal; an animal recognition device configured to automatically determine an identity of the milking animal; a control system configured to control the robot milking system; and a positioning aid configured to determine a position of the milking animal in the milking box, where: the positioning aid is movable by the control system between an inactive state away from the milking animal and an active state up against the milking animal, the positioning aid is in the active state at least when the milking apparatus is connected to the milking animal, and the control system is configured to bring the positioning aid into the active state as a function of the identity determined by the animal recognition device.
An animal husbandry system including monitoring and analyzing means configured for repeatedly generating images and gathering animal data, the monitoring and analyzing means including a plurality of cameras and image processing means. The plurality of cameras is suitable for monitoring the area from above. Image processing means are suitable for matching animals in the field of view of multiple cameras by detecting animal silhouettes in images of different cameras, defining an animal bounding box around each animal silhouette, applying to each animal bounding box either a first projection onto an image stitching plane if the animal is standing, or a second projection if the animal is lying down, stitching the projected bounding boxes in the stitching plane and identifying identical animals in the stitched image.
A robotic milking system (1) has a milking stall, milking cups (2), a control device (12), a teat position-determining device (4) for determining teat candidate positions of the teats of the dairy animal, and a robot arm (3) for attaching the milking cups to the teats, based on the determined teat candidate positions. The teat position¬ determining device determines an animal reference position for said dairy animal, and the teat candidate positions by determining positions with respect to the animal reference position of all objects which meet a teat criterion, and a respective probability that it is a teat for each of the objects. The control device repeats the steps a) attaching a milking cup to an object at one of the teat candidate positions associated with the milking cup, in descending sequence of probability, b) milking with the milking cup, c) assessing whether the milking operation yields milk, d) if so, storing the object with the candidate teat position as a real teat with a real teat position, and e) if not, storing the object with the candidate teat position as a false teat with an associated false teat position, and detaching the milking cup until either an object is stored as an associated real teat with an associated real teat position for all milking cups, or either a real teat with a real teat position or a false teat with an associated false teat position is stored for all teat candidate positions.
A vehicle for displacing feed which is situated on a floor along a feed fence comprises an electrical drive and steering system for driving and steering the vehicle, and a battery system. The vehicle comprises a skirt which is suspended from a skirt carrier so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation. The skirt defines a continuous bottom edge which, during the displacement of feed, extends in a plane which runs obliquely with respect to the surface, so that a lowest point of this bottom edge is in contact with the surface. Due to this contact, the skirt rotates when the vehicle moves, so that the skirt displaces the feed on the floor in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the vehicle. The skirt carrier comprises a tilting arm which extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal central plane and, viewed in the direction of travel, in front of the axis of rotation of the skirt. The tilting arm comprises a left end respectively a right end with skirt-guiding elements, from which the skirt is suspended so as to be rotatable. The tilting arm comprises a central hinged connection which defines a tilting axis which is situated substantially in the longitudinal central plane. The tilting arm is adjustable by means of an electrical adjustment device in a left pushing position and a right pushing position, in which the tilting arm is tilted about the tilting axis to an oblique position to the left or to the right, respectively, in order to tilt the skirt-guiding element on the left end and on the right end of the tilting arm, respectively, down in order to adjust the lowest point of the skirt to the left and right, respectively, of the longitudinal central plane.
In the field of sucking up liquid from a liquid tank, provision is made of a liquid-passage device comprising an elongate suction lance. The suction lance comprises a liquid- passage line for transport of sucked-up liquid through the suction lance, and a tubular outer housing in which the liquid-passage line extends, wherein the liquid-passage line is at least partially flexible, wherein the outer housing is telescopic with at least two housing parts which are movable in the longitudinal direction of the suction lance in relation to one another, and wherein the liquid-passage line is coupled to each of the housing parts such that the housing parts are preloaded into a base position in relation to one another at least by the liquid-passage line. Under the influence of striking against the suction lance, the outer housing can retract counter to the preload, whereby damage to a bottom of the liquid tank can be prevented.
F04B 23/02 - Pumping installations or systems having reservoirs
F04B 49/025 - Stopping, starting, unloading or idling control by means of floats
G01F 23/68 - Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by floats of the free float type using electrically actuated indicating means
G01F 23/70 - Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by floats of the free float type using electrically actuated indicating means for sensing changes in level only at discrete points
A feed-dispensing device for dispensing feed for animals, such as cattle, comprises a holder for receiving a batch of feed. The holder comprises a side wall with an elongated dispensing opening for dispensing feed from the holder. An elongated sliding door is displaceable upward from a closed state, in which the sliding door closes the dispensing opening, into an open state, in which the sliding door opens the dispensing opening over a dispensing height. An extraction device for extracting from the holder feed present in the holder comprises an elongated extraction body which is arranged in a rotatably drivable manner outside the holder, substantially parallel with and in front of the dispensing opening. The extraction body comprises a plurality of feed-gripping protrusions which are distributed over the extraction body at least in a height direction. On rotation of the extraction body, the protrusions move through the dispensing opening into the holder. The protrusions are distributed over the extraction body in a circumferential direction such that the extraction body has a rest state, in which all protrusions are situated outside the holder and the sliding door is displaceable downward from the open state into the closed state. A positioning device is provided for positioning the extraction body in a rotation direction into the rest state by rotation of the extraction body. The open state of the sliding door is settable such that the dispensing height is settable over a range between a minimum dispensing height and a maximum dispensing height. The protrusions of the extraction body are detachably fastenable at least over the settable range of the dispensing height.
B01F 27/17 - Stirrers with additional elements mounted on the stirrer, for purposes other than mixing
B01F 27/92 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptaclesKneaders with stirrers rotating about a substantially vertical axis with helices or screws
A vehicle for displacing feed which is situated on a floor along a feed fence comprises an electrical drive and steering system for driving and steering the vehicle, and a battery system. The vehicle comprises a skirt which is suspended from a skirt carrier so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation. The skirt defines a continuous bottom edge which, during the displacement of feed, extends in a plane which runs obliquely with respect to the surface, so that a lowest point of this bottom edge is in contact with the surface. Due to this contact, the skirt rotates when the vehicle moves, so that the skirt displaces the feed on the floor in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the vehicle. The skirt carrier comprises a tilting arm which extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal central plane and, viewed in the direction of travel, in front of the axis of rotation of the skirt. The tilting arm comprises a left end respectively a right end with skirt-guiding elements, from which the skirt is suspended so as to be rotatable. The tilting arm comprises a central hinged connection which defines a tilting axis which is situated substantially in the longitudinal central plane. The tilting arm is adjustable by means of an electrical adjustment device in a left pushing position and a right pushing position, in which the tilting arm is tilted about the tilting axis to an oblique position to the left or to the right, respectively, in order to tilt the skirt-guiding element on the left end and on the right end of the tilting arm, respectively, down in order to adjust the lowest point of the skirt to the left and right, respectively, of the longitudinal central plane.
In the context of an agricultural vehicle which has an activatable processing member for processing a crop or feed or for soil cultivation, and which is configured to travel autonomously in an operating area, measures are provided for increasing the operating safety of the agricultural vehicle. The agricultural vehicle is equipped with an optical detection mechanism and, in addition, there is at least one marking element in the operating area which is detectable by the optical detection mechanism of the agricultural vehicle. This makes it possible to perform a safety-check routine during which a check is performed to determine whether an observation of a marking element takes place at an expected position, and also whether an observation takes place at a position at which an observation of a marking element can be expected. If a deviation is found, it is possible to intervene in the movement of the agricultural vehicle and/or the operation of the processing member.
A01D 43/063 - Mowers combined with apparatus performing additional operations while mowing with means for collecting, gathering or loading mown material in or into a container carried by the mowerContainers therefor
A01D 75/20 - Devices for protecting men or animals
A feed-dispensing device for dispensing feed for animals, such as cattle, comprises a holder for receiving a batch of feed. The holder comprises a side wall with an elongated dispensing opening for dispensing feed from the holder. An elongated sliding door is displaceable upward from a closed state, in which the sliding door closes the dispensing opening, into an open state, in which the sliding door opens the dispensing opening over a dispensing height. An extraction device for extracting from the holder feed present in the holder comprises an elongated extraction body which is arranged in a rotatably drivable manner outside the holder, substantially parallel with and in front of the dispensing opening. The extraction body comprises a plurality of feed-gripping protrusions which are distributed over the extraction body at least in a height direction. On rotation of the extraction body, the protrusions move through the dispensing opening into the holder. The protrusions are distributed over the extraction body in a circumferential direction such that the extraction body has a rest state, in which all protrusions are situated outside the holder and the sliding door is displaceable downward from the open state into the closed state. A positioning device is provided for positioning the extraction body in a rotation direction into the rest state by rotation of the extraction body. The open state of the sliding door is settable such that the dispensing height is settable over a range between a minimum dispensing height and a maximum dispensing height. The protrusions of the extraction body are detachably fastenable at least over the settable range of the dispensing height.
B01F 27/17 - Stirrers with additional elements mounted on the stirrer, for purposes other than mixing
B01F 27/92 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptaclesKneaders with stirrers rotating about a substantially vertical axis with helices or screws
46.
LIQUID-PASSAGE DEVICE FOR USE IN SUCKING UP LIQUID FROM A LIQUID TANK
In the field of sucking up liquid from a liquid tank, provision is made of a liquid-passage device comprising an elongate suction lance. The suction lance comprises a liquid- passage line for transport of sucked-up liquid through the suction lance, and a tubular outer housing in which the liquid-passage line extends, wherein the liquid-passage line is at least partially flexible, wherein the outer housing is telescopic with at least two housing parts which are movable in the longitudinal direction of the suction lance in relation to one another, and wherein the liquid-passage line is coupled to each of the housing parts such that the housing parts are preloaded into a base position in relation to one another at least by the liquid-passage line. Under the influence of striking against the suction lance, the outer housing can retract counter to the preload, whereby damage to a bottom of the liquid tank can be prevented.
G01F 23/68 - Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by floats of the free float type using electrically actuated indicating means
F04B 49/025 - Stopping, starting, unloading or idling control by means of floats
F04B 23/02 - Pumping installations or systems having reservoirs
G01F 23/70 - Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by floats of the free float type using electrically actuated indicating means for sensing changes in level only at discrete points
47.
METHOD FOR CLEANING OF A MILK FILTER, AND MILKING SYSTEM FOR THE METHOD
A method for cleaning a milk-filtering device (5) in a milking system (1), and a milking system (1) for the method are provided. The milking system comprises a milking device (2), a milk tank (3) for the milk, a milk line (4) for transporting the milked milk from the at least one milking device to the milk tank, and a milk-filtering device (5). The latter is configured to filter the milked milk and has a filter housing (51) containing a filter body (55) with filter ducts (56). The milking system also has a milk filter-cleaning device with a sensor device (60) which measures a sensor value which is indicative of the flow resistance for milk passing through the milk-filtering device, a control unit (54) which controls the milk filter-cleaning device based on the measured sensor value, a cleaning fluid inlet (52), a fluid outlet (53), a valve device (61, 63) controllable by the control unit for flow-connecting the milk-filtering device with either the milk line (4), or the cleaning fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The method comprises transporting the milk through the milk-filtering device in a first direction, with the sensor device measuring said sensor value, passing cleaning fluid according to one of at least two various counterflow cleaning programs through at least said filter body in a second, opposite direction, depending on the measured sensor value. By making the counterflow cleaning operation dependent on the flow resistance, it is possible to choose a different type of cleaning operation at a certain measured resistance. This results in a savings on resources and may sometimes yield improved cleaning results.
In the field of transporting and filtering of milk, a milk-transporting line (111) for transporting milk and a filter device (150) for filtering the milk in the milk-transporting line are used in a milking system (100). The filter device comprises an assembly of at least two filter units (151a, 151b, 151c, 151d) through which milk can flow simultaneously, wherein each of the filter units has a functional filter surface. In a cleaning process, cleaning fluid is passed through a limited part of a sum of the respective functional filter surfaces of the filter units, so that locally intensified cleaning operation may be realised, that is to say, cleaning takes place with greater force than would be the case if a cleaning fluid were to be passed through the total sum of the respective functional filter surfaces of the filter units.
In a system (100) comprising an autonomously driving agricultural vehicle (1), an underlying surface (18) and a strip body (19), the design of the strip body differs from a standard design with a flat top side. The strip body (19) is fitted to the underlying surface in order to indicate a path over the underlying surface that should be followed by the agricultural vehicle. In particular, the strip body is configured to reflect incident light at a detection region (21) thereof, and the agricultural vehicle is equipped with an optical detection mechanism (20) to perceive the detection region. The detection region has a bent form transverse to a length direction of the strip body. The detection region may, for example, be provided with at least one longitudinal bend line (22, 23), or be convexly curved. In this way, the desired path is reliably followed by the agricultural vehicle (1).
A01J 5/017 - Automatic attaching or detaching of clusters
G01S 17/06 - Systems determining position data of a target
G02B 26/08 - Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements for controlling the direction of light
istartmiistart2m iistartstartstartstart22 + T]. A flexible, fast, stable and reliable laser beam control is thus obtained. This enables fast and effective teat detection, so that teat cups can be efficiently connected.
A01J 5/017 - Automatic attaching or detaching of clusters
G01S 17/06 - Systems determining position data of a target
G02B 26/08 - Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements for controlling the direction of light
An animal husbandry system, wherein a group of animals can move about freely in an area, includes monitoring and analyzing device configured for repeatedly generating images and gathering data therefrom regarding at least one mobile being and/or object in the area, an illumination device provided with a number of illumination elements, each arranged for illuminating at least a subarea of the area, and a controller connected to the monitoring and analyzing device and to the illumination device. The monitoring and analyzing device is configured for determining an image quality value for each generated image and for detecting an insufficient image quality due to an unsuitable illumination intensity in at least one of the subareas. The control device is configured for adjusting said unsuitable illumination intensity in said subarea to a suitable illumination intensity, so that the image quality becomes sufficient.
A milking robot (1) has a milking station (2), a control unit and a robot arm (3) for connecting milking cups (4). The robot arm has a teat detection device (5) having a transparent front element (18), and is moveable between a rest position outside the milking station and an operating area under the dairy animal. The milking robot is provided with a cleaning device for the front element, having a compressed-air device (20) on the robot arm and a fixedly arranged spraying device (6). The control unit selectively carries out the following: with the robot arm in the operating area, blowing compressed air onto the front element, and, with the robot arm in the rest position, spraying liquid onto the front element, and simultaneously or subsequently blowing compressed air onto said front element. By only using the liquid in the rest position outside the milking station, milk contamination and disturbance of the dairy animal is prevented. By contrast, cleaning with compressed air is available both at the milking station and in the rest position. Optimal, flexible and safe cleaning is thus provided.
29 - Meat, dairy products, prepared or preserved foods
30 - Basic staples, tea, coffee, baked goods and confectionery
35 - Advertising and business services
Goods & Services
Milk and milk products; yoghurt; buttermilk; drinks made
from dairy products; beverages made of milk; edible oils and
fats; butter; cheese. Coffee beverages with milk; chocolate-based beverages with
milk; ice cream, ice cream; milk-based porridge; chocolate
desserts; ice cream desserts; custards. Advertising; business management; business administration;
clerical services; publication of publicity texts;
distribution of advertising material; promotional
activities; advertising; business management; business
organizational, business communication, business strategic,
business economics and business administrative advice;
provision of commercial information; business advice
relating to franchising; marketing; market canvassing,
market research and market analysis; commercial and business
intermediary services in the purchase and sale, import and
export agencies, as well as wholesale and retail services
concerning milk and milk products, yoghurt, milk-based
drinks, drinks made from milk or containing milk, milk-based
desserts, edible oils and fats, butter, coffee drinks with
milk, chocolate-based drinks with milk, ice cream scoops,
ice-cream, porridge and custard based on milk; organisation
of events for commercial and advertising purposes;
compiling, managing and editing data files for business
purposes; consultancy and information regarding the
aforesaid services; aforementioned services also via
electronic networks, such as the internet.
29 - Meat, dairy products, prepared or preserved foods
30 - Basic staples, tea, coffee, baked goods and confectionery
35 - Advertising and business services
Goods & Services
Milk and milk products; yoghurt; buttermilk; drinks made
from dairy products; beverages made of milk; edible oils and
fats; butter; cheese. Coffee beverages with milk; chocolate-based beverages with
milk; ice cream, ice cream; milk-based porridge; chocolate
desserts; ice cream desserts; custards. Advertising; business management; business administration;
clerical services; publication of publicity texts;
distribution of advertising material; promotional
activities; advertising; business management; business
organizational, business communication, business strategic,
business economics and business administrative advice;
provision of commercial information; business advice
relating to franchising; marketing; market canvassing,
market research and market analysis; commercial and business
intermediary services in the purchase and sale, import and
export agencies, as well as wholesale and retail services
concerning milk and milk products, yoghurt, milk-based
drinks, drinks made from milk or containing milk, milk-based
desserts, edible oils and fats, butter, coffee drinks with
milk, chocolate-based drinks with milk, ice cream scoops,
ice-cream, porridge and custard based on milk; organisation
of events for commercial and advertising purposes;
compiling, managing and editing data files for business
purposes; consultancy and information regarding the
aforesaid services; aforementioned services also via
electronic networks, such as the internet.
57.
ANIMAL SHED SYSTEM WITH UNLOADING AREA FOR MANURE VEHICLE
The invention relates to an animal shed system (100) comprising an animal shed (110) having an animal shed floor (101); a reservoir (102) situated under the animal shed floor (101), wherein the animal shed floor (101) has a first walking surface (103) and an opposite second surface (104) facing the reservoir (102), the first (103) and second (104) surfaces spaced apart, such that the floor (101) has a thickness different from zero; a floor opening (105) in the animal shed floor (101) to allow manure (131) to be dumped in the reservoir (102) and forming a passageway (205) between the animal shed (110) and the reservoir (102); a manure-removal vehicle (120) for removing manure (131) from the animal shed floor (101) and dumping the manure (131) into the reservoir (102) at the floor opening (105); and a closing device (200) provided at the floor opening (105) for closing the floor opening (105) when the manure-removal vehicle (120) is absent from the opening (105), wherein the closing device (200) is provided with an actuating system (204) to move the closing device (200) with respect to the floor opening (105) to an open position opening up the floor opening (105) or to a closed position closing the floor opening (105).
A system (1) for feeding animals, such as cows, comprises a feed carriage (2). The feed carriage comprises a frame (4) with wheels (5, 6), by means of which the feed carriage is moveable over an underlying surface (7), such as a floor. A container (8) for receiving a batch of feed is fitted to the frame. A weighing system having at least one weighing sensor (10) is provided for weighing feed received in the container. The system comprises at least one jack (3), which is actuatable between a lowering position and a raising position. The frame comprises at least one wheel jacking point (11) for fitting the jack below the frame in such a way that (i) the wheel closest to the wheel jacking point is supported on the underlying surface when the jack is fitted in the lowering position at the wheel jacking point, and (ii) the jack fitted at the wheel jacking point lifts up the frame in order to release this wheel from the underlying surface when the jack is actuated from the lowering position to the raising position. The frame further comprises at least one weighing sensor jacking point (12) for fitting this same jack in such a way that (i) the container is supported on the frame by means of the weighing sensor when the jack is fitted in the lowering position at the weighing sensor jacking point, and (ii) the jack fitted at the weighing sensor jacking point lifts up the container in order to relieve the load on the weighing sensor when the jack is actuated from the lowering position to the raising position. The jack therefore has a dual function.
A milking system (1) comprises a milking stall (2) with robotic milking means (6) and a feeding system (9) for dispensing concentrate to a dairy animal. The feeding system comprises a feed trough (15), a feed-metering device and a residual feed-measuring device (10) for measuring concentrate which has remained behind in the feed trough. The residual feed-measuring device comprises a 3D camera (11) and a screening device (12) in order to screen off the 3D camera from scattered light. The 3D camera is configured to take a 3D image of the feed trough after the dairy animal has left the milking stall, and to determine a surface on the basis thereof. The residual feed-measuring device is configured to determine the amount of residual feed from the 3D surface produced and a reference surface of an empty feed trough. The screen only starts to operate after a visit by the dairy animal, and ensures an accurate measurement. The 3D camera can automatically determine the reference image from the emptiest feed trough of the last N measurements.
A system (1) having a stall (2, 3) for a livestock animal for eating during a visit, and having a concentrate system for providing concentrate. The concentrate-provision system comprises a feed trough (6), a feed-dosing device (8-1, 8-2) and a residual-feed-measuring device for measuring concentrate left after the visit. The feed-dosing device is a volumetric dosing device with a memory (10) and with an input device (11) for a density value of the concentrate and provides an adjustable volume of concentrate on the basis of said density value. The residual-feed-measuring device comprises a 3D camera (12) for making, after the visit, a 3D image of the feed trough with the leftover concentrate, and for determining the quantity of leftover concentrate in the feed trough on the basis of the 3D image made and on the basis of said input density value in the memory. The measurement is relatively reliable owing to the thus contactless measurement of the residual feed. In addition, residual-feed-determination and feed-dosing configuration are based on determination of a volume. The system is already simple to operate due to the inputting of the density.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
11 - Environmental control apparatus
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
Software for analyzing and displaying animal data; system
software detecting livestock parameters, in particular
systems for detecting heat; system software detecting gait
abnormalities in mammals; mammal birth detection systems;
animal tracking systems; cameras, especially stationary
cameras for use in livestock barns; switching, control and
monitoring equipment for stable lighting; light switches,
dimmers and electrical wiring for stable lighting. Lamps, lighting equipment and lighting fixtures for stables. Automation services for agriculture, in particular for
livestock farming; SaaS (software as a service) services for
agriculture, especially for livestock farming; development
of new products in the field of livestock farming; technical
advice on the development of new products for livestock
farming; design and development of electronic equipment,
computer hardware and computer software for the livestock
industry; advice regarding the use and application of
software, embedded software and equipment containing
embedded software for livestock farming.
A milking system includes a device to sample and analyse a milk sample, a sample supply line connected to the milk line, a pump to control the sample flow, an optical radiation source, and an optical sensor device to detect and analyse optical radiation coming from the reagent pad with said sample, to provide an indication of a substance in the sample, a tape mover to move and unwind the tape from the tape reel, and a pump drive releasably operably connected to the pump device for driving the pump device. The sampling and analysis device also includes a cassette with a sample receiving line to receive the sample from the sample supply line, a tape reel with a tape that includes a base tape layer and a series of separate reagent pads, and a dosing device to provide a droplet of the sample onto a reagent pad.
A01J 5/013 - On-site detection of mastitis in milk
G01N 1/10 - Devices for withdrawing samples in the liquid or fluent state
G01N 1/18 - Devices for withdrawing samples in the liquid or fluent state with provision for splitting samples into portions
G01N 21/77 - Systems in which material is subjected to a chemical reaction, the progress or the result of the reaction being investigated by observing the effect on a chemical indicator
G01N 21/85 - Investigating moving fluids or granular solids
A milking system for milking a milking animal includes a teatcup for fitting on a teat of the milking animal, and a measuring chamber connected directly and rigidly thereto. The teatcup has a longitudinal direction, and a first milk outflow orifice for milk outflow parallel to the longitudinal direction. The measuring chamber has a peripheral wall, a milk inlet in fluid communication therewith, a second milk outflow orifice to a milk tube, a vacuum outlet, and a sensor device for determining a property of the milk in the measuring chamber. In a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the measuring chamber has a first inside diameter in a first direction, and a smaller second diameter in a perpendicular second direction.
A milking device has milking means, a controller, a milk line for transporting the milk from the milking means to a milk tank, a milk filter for filtering the milk passing through the milk line, and a cleaning device for cleaning the milk filter with cleaning fluid. The milk filter comprises a housing which surrounds a filter volume and has a milk inlet and a milk outlet, and a circumferential filter body. The filter body comprises filter holes and divides the filter volume into an inner filter volume and an outer filter volume. The milk filter is configured to be flushed during use. The cleaning device is configured to clean the milk filter. The filter holes are grouped into a first group and a second group. The diameter of the holes in the first group is greater than that of the second group.
A milking system including a milking means, a milk line, and a sampling and analysis device, that includes an analysis tape, with a carrier layer and a reagent tape layer with a reagent that provides a detectable response in the presence of a substance in the sample, a dosing device, an optical radiation source, and an optical sensor device to detect optical response radiation emitted by the reagent tape layer and to analyse the detected optical response radiation to provide an indication of a presence or concentration of the substance in the droplet. The reagent tape layer includes, or is, a material with an asymmetrical porosity, having the largest pore size at a first side where the sample is provided, and the smallest pore size at the opposite side.
G01N 21/77 - Systems in which material is subjected to a chemical reaction, the progress or the result of the reaction being investigated by observing the effect on a chemical indicator
A01J 5/013 - On-site detection of mastitis in milk
A milking system includes two or more milking devices for extracting a milking from a dairy animal; a central utility system connected with each milking device in the milking system, and a cleaning unit for cleaning the milking devices and milk-carrying parts of the central utility system. The cleaning unit includes a fluid transporting line for transport of cleaning fluid where each of the milking devices is in fluid connection with the fluid transport line, a buffer unit for receiving and temporarily storing extracted milk where the buffer unit is in fluid connection with each of the milking devices through a milk line, and a control unit for controlling the central utility unit. The cleaning unit cleans each milking device and milk line during a cleaning cycle, and at least one of the milking devices is available for extracting milk from a dairy animal during the cleaning cycle.
A milking system includes a milking device, a sampling device and an analyser for analysing a milk sample, with a housing for a first holder with a reagent carrier with indicator pads, and a second holder for used reagent carrier, a metering system, a first optical radiation source for optical imaging radiation, a sensor device for detecting and analysing response radiation derived from the active indicator pad, for supplying an indication of a presence or concentration of said at least one substance in the sample. The analyser further includes a temperature control system for keeping the active indicator pad at temperature, with a second optical radiation source for emitting optical heating radiation, and a source control device to control the second optical radiation source.
G01N 21/78 - Systems in which material is subjected to a chemical reaction, the progress or the result of the reaction being investigated by observing the effect on a chemical indicator producing a change of colour
A01J 5/007 - Monitoring milking processesControl or regulation of milking machines
A milking device is provided with milking means, a control unit, a milk line for transporting the milk from the milking means to a milk tank, a milk filter for filtering the milk passing through the milk line, and a cleaning device for the milk filter with cleaning liquid. The milk filter includes a housing which surrounds a filter volume and has a milk inlet and a milk outlet, and a filter component in the filter volume. The filter component includes a circumferential plate part with filter openings, and divides the filter volume into a central inner filter volume and an outer filter volume surrounding the latter. The filter component includes wire with a unilaterally tapering cross-sectional profile and a frame. The wire is provided in a spiral shape with a plurality of windings or in a series of individual parallel rings or rods.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
11 - Environmental control apparatus
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
(1) Software for analyzing and displaying animal data; system software detecting livestock parameters, in particular systems for detecting heat; system software detecting gait abnormalities in mammals; mammal birth detection systems; animal tracking systems; cameras, especially stationary cameras for use in livestock barns; switching, control and monitoring equipment for stable lighting; light switches, dimmers and electrical wiring for stable lighting.
(2) Lamps, lighting equipment and lighting fixtures for stables. (1) Automation services for agriculture, in particular for livestock farming; SaaS (software as a service) services for agriculture, especially for livestock farming; development of new products in the field of livestock farming; technical advice on the development of new products for livestock farming; design and development of electronic equipment, computer hardware and computer software for the livestock industry; advice regarding the use and application of software, embedded software and equipment containing embedded software for livestock farming.
74.
Monitoring system for individual growth monitoring of livestock animals
A growth monitoring system, and method, for livestock animals includes a barn environment that has a floor with bedding material, a 3D camera with a downward looking field-of-view, in which an animal may be present during a visit, to obtain repeatedly a 3D image of the field-of-view, and an image processor to extract a 3D point cloud representation. The image processor detects whether an animal is present in the point cloud representation, and if yes, selects the animal part point cloud of the point cloud representation, and determines a position dependent first height information, being a height above the floor of the animal part point cloud, and determines a position of the front legs and/or the hind legs of the animal, and if no, determines a position dependent second height information, being a height above the floor of the bedding material.
A milking system with a milking device, a milking control, a milk line in fluid connection with the milking device, and a sampling and analysis device to take a sample of the milk from the milk line and to analyse milk from the sample are disclosed. The milking control is arranged to control the milking device on the basis of the analysis. The sampling and analysis device includes a control unit, a tape reel provided with a tape that is lengthwise provided with a series of consecutive reagent pads that provide a detectable response in the presence of a substance in the sample, a tape mover to move the tape, a dosing device to supply a part of the sample onto a reagent pad on the tape, and a camera to obtain an image of the reagent pad supplied with the droplet, and an analysis device to analyse the obtained images to provide to the milking control device an indication of a presence or concentration of said substance. The camera has a field of view that contains a plurality of reagent pads of the series of consecutive reagent pads. This allows to observe the reaction in the reagent pad for a much longer time. In turn, this allows to use much less reagent material, such as expensive enzymes, in the pads. It is particularly useful when observing double layer reagent types.
G05B 19/4155 - Numerical control [NC], i.e. automatically operating machines, in particular machine tools, e.g. in a manufacturing environment, so as to execute positioning, movement or co-ordinated operations by means of programme data in numerical form characterised by programme execution, i.e. part programme or machine function execution, e.g. selection of a programme
76.
System and method for carrying out an animal-related operation, and in combination, a barn for keeping animals and a system of this kind
A system for carrying out an animal-related operation, including an autonomous vehicle and a charging station for charging a battery system of the vehicle. The charging station includes a transmitting body with a primary coil. The vehicle includes a receiving body with a secondary coil. The vehicle is maneuverable relative to the transmitting body of the charging station in such a way that the primary coil of the transmitting body and the secondary coil of the receiving body are mutually aligned in a charging state to transfer electrical energy wirelessly from the primary coil to the secondary coil for wireless charging of the vehicle's battery system. The system includes a cleaning device for cleaning at least the receiving body of the vehicle before the primary coil of the transmitting body and the secondary coil of the receiving body are mutually aligned in the charging state.
A47L 11/40 - Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups , or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers or levers
B60L 53/124 - Detection or removal of foreign bodies
B60L 53/38 - Means for automatic or assisted adjustment of the relative position of charging devices and vehicles specially adapted for charging by inductive energy transfer
An automatically cleanable milk filter includes a cylindrical housing with an outer wall, a first end with a first liquid connection, and above a second end with a second liquid connection. A concentric cylindrical filter part and a cylindrical core placed concentrically within the filter part are accommodated in the housing. The filter part includes wire having a tapered cross-sectional profile in a spiral shape or as a series of parallel rings or rods, and a frame for keeping them spaced apart, thereby forming a plurality of filter openings. The filter part divides the filter volume into a first volume part which is directly connected to the first liquid connection, and a second volume part which is directly connected to the second liquid connection. The second volume part includes a cylindrical part, as well as a top part which narrows at a transition to the second liquid connection.
A01J 7/02 - Accessories for milking machines or devices for cleaning or sanitising milking machines or devices
B01D 29/48 - Edge filtering elements, i.e. using contiguous impervious surfaces of spirally or helically wound bodies
B01D 29/66 - Regenerating the filter material in the filter by flushing, e.g. counter-current air-bumps
B01D 29/90 - Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups Filtering elements therefor having feed or discharge devices for feeding
78.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOVING MANURE FROM A FLOOR IN A BARN FOR ANIMALS, AND, IN COMBINATION, A BARN FOR KEEPING ANIMALS AND A SYSTEM OF THIS KIND
A system for removing manure from a floor in a barn for animals, such as cows, includes an autonomous manure removing vehicle, which is provided with a drive system. The drive system includes at least one electric drive motor. An electronic control system is connected to the drive system for control thereof. A battery system for storing electrical energy is connected to the drive system and the control system. The system includes a charging station for charging the battery system. The charging station includes a transmitting body with a primary coil. The manure removing vehicle includes a receiving body with a secondary coil. The receiving body is fastened rigidly to the manure removing vehicle. The transmitting body of the charging station is pretensioned to a waiting state, and is movable from the waiting state against the action of the pretension, through engagement with the receiving body of the manure removing vehicle that enters the charging station, in such a way that the primary coil of the transmitting body and the secondary coil of the receiving body are mutually aligned in a charging state to transfer electrical energy wirelessly from the primary coil to the secondary coil for wireless charging of the battery system.
A system for removing manure from a floor in a barn for animals, such as cows, includes an autonomous manure removing vehicle which is provided with a drive system. The drive system includes at least one electric drive motor. An electronic control system is connected to the drive system for control thereof. A battery system for storing electrical energy is connected to the drive system and the control system. The system includes a charging station for charging the battery system of the manure removing vehicle. The charging station includes a transmitting body with a primary coil. The manure removing vehicle includes a receiving body with a secondary coil. The receiving body is arranged on a top side of the manure removing vehicle. The manure removing vehicle is maneuverable with respect to the transmitting body of the charging station in such a way that the primary coil of the transmitting body and the secondary coil of the receiving body are mutually aligned in order to wirelessly transfer electrical energy from the primary coil to the secondary coil for wireless charging of the battery system of the manure removing vehicle.
A system for removing manure from a floor in a barn, such as cows, includes an autonomous manure removing vehicle provided with a drive system for driving the manure removing vehicle. The drive system includes at least one electrical drive motor. An electronic control system is connected to the drive system for controlling the latter. A battery system for storing electrical energy is connected to the drive system and the control system. The manure removing vehicle includes a manure bounding device with a manure slider for moving manure over the floor while the manure removing vehicle travels across the floor. The manure bounding device is configured to at least partially bound the manure present on the floor in front of the manure slider. The system includes a charging station for charging the battery system of the manure removing vehicle when the manure removing vehicle is in the charging station in a charging position. The charging station includes a manure blocking device which, together with the manure bounding device, is configured to define, in the charging position of the manure removing vehicle, a holding space substantially closed off for manure.
A camera device for observing and recognizing a livestock animal in a shed environment. The camera includes a housing with an outer surface and with a light transmitting opening, an optics for forming an image of the environment, a light-sensitive sensor provided in the housing for recording the formed image, an image processing device for processing the recorded image and recognizing a portion of a shed animal, and a control unit. A first portion of the outer surface is lighter in colour on a side of the opening at least directly around than opening than a second portion of the outer surface which is located away from the opening and which is at least half the size of the first portion. The lighter colour around the one or more openings reduces soiling by flies in comparison with known cameras with black surroundings for these openings.
H04N 23/52 - Elements optimising image sensor operation, e.g. for electromagnetic interference [EMI] protection or temperature control by heat transfer or cooling elements
H04N 23/56 - Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensorsControl thereof provided with illuminating means
An animal husbandry system, wherein a group of animals can move about freely in an area, the system comprising at least one weighing unit in the area, video monitoring and analyzing mechanism being provided suitable for establishing in conjunction with the at least one weighing unit whether an animal is positioned suitably on the weighing unit for a correct weighing, storing device being provided for storing data relating to each individual animal, such as weight data, control mechanism being provided, operatively connected to each weighing unit, the video monitoring and analyzing mechanism and the storing device, wherein the control mechanism is arranged to store weight data from each weighing unit in the storing device as soon as it is established that an animal is positioned suitably on the weighing unit for a correct weighing.
The invention relates to a milking system (100) comprising two or more milking devices (101) for extracting milk from a dairy animal; a central cleaning unit (160) for cleaning each of the milking devices and milk-carrying parts of the milking system, wherein each of the milking devices is in flow connection with the liquid transport line (165), a buffer unit (140) for receiving and temporarily storing fluids, the buffer unit comprising a first buffer tank (141), and a second buffer tank (142), wherein each of the buffer tanks is in flow connection with each of the milking devices, wherein the milking system further comprises a milk transport system with a milk transport line (121) that connects the buffer unit with a bulk milk storage system (102), and wherein during a first cleaning stage, the central cleaning unit is configured to supply the first cleaning liquid through a cleaning liquid transport line for cleaning one of a first milking device and a second milking device, and the valve system (150) is configured to allow a first flow of first cleaning liquid from the first milking device or the second milking device to be collected in the first buffer tank and to allow a milk flow from the other of the second milking device and the first milking device to the second buffer tank; and wherein during a second cleaning stage, the first cleaning liquid in a second flow from the first buffer tank through the milk transport line cleans at least part of the milk transport system.
A feeding system for feeding animals, such as cows, comprises an autonomous feeding device with a container for receiving a batch of feed. The container has a maximum feed load. A feed-quantity measuring device measures the quantity of feed that is available for consumption by the animals at the feeding places. A control system first determines which feeding places have a feed requirement on the basis of a feeding criterion and the measured quantity of feed at the feeding places. The control system provides a combined feeding task list of one or more feeding tasks to be carried out by the feeding device with a batch of feed received in the container. Each feeding task comprises a quantity of feed to be dispensed for a feeding place. The control system begins with a first feeding task for a first feeding place with a feed requirement. The control system then adds one or more further feeding tasks for further feeding places with a feed requirement to the combined feeding task list without the maximum feed load being exceeded. If at least one additional feeding task for an additional feeding place with a feed requirement then exceeds the maximum feed load, the control system adds this additional feeding task to the combined feeding task list if this prevents a small batch of feed being produced in a subsequent feeding run. In this case, the quantities of feed of the combined feeding task list are reduced such that they fit in the container of the feeding device.
A livestock animal management system comprises a livestock shed with a livestock space for livestock animals, a feed fence provided in the livestock shed with a plurality of feed fence positions, where the livestock animals are able to eat animal feed through the feed fence, a livestock animal locating system for determining and monitoring positions of the livestock animals in the livestock shed, and a control device which is connected to the livestock animal locating system for receiving and processing said positions. The control device is configured for generating an animal alarm if the position of a livestock animal remains within a distance threshold of one of the feed fence positions for at least a time threshold. In this way, it is possible to generate an alarm for a trapped animal in a reliable manner. Due to the distance threshold, there is, on the one hand, a connection with the feed fence, in which animals could become trapped. On the other hand, said distance threshold prevents the situation the situation where no alarm is raised for trapped animals which are still moving.
An animal husbandry system for a group of animals that can move about freely in an area. The system contains at least one illumination unit, each illumination unit contains a mounting structure provided with a number of illumination elements, and each is arranged for illuminating a respective subarea. The system also contains at least one camera arranged for monitoring a number of subareas, where the camera(s) is (are) arranged for repeatedly determining the illumination intensity at one or more reference surfaces in the area. The system further contains a control means, operatively connected to the illumination elements and to the camera(s), and the control means is programmed for adjusting the illumination elements, based upon the determined illumination intensity at the reference surface(s), in such a way that a predetermined desired illumination intensity pattern is achieved in the area.
G01B 11/14 - Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures
A separation-milk collecting system (7) comprises a supply (3) for connecting to a milking device (2) and for receiving separation milk therefrom, a milk container (10) for separation milk, a line (8) which is fluidically connected to the supply and which has a movable outflow opening (9), an actuator device (13) for settable movement of the outflow opening at least to above one of the milk containers (10), and a control unit (19). The separation-milk-collecting system is furthermore provided with a cleaning device for the line, which comprises a compressed-air device (16) to blow compressed air through the line at a pressure and/or flow rate settable by the control unit. A milking system with such a separation-milk collecting system is also provided.
A sampling device for taking a representative milk sample from a milking device. The milking device includes a milking means, a milk jar, a milk hose, a milk tank, a milk line, a milk pump for pumping the milk, a milk meter for determining the quantity of milk milked, and a control unit. The sampling device includes a sample line with an input connection to the milk jar, the milk pump or the milk line, an output to a sample collection receptacle, and a control device controllable by the control unit based on the quantity of milk determined by the milk meter in order to direct, during pumping, a sample quantity of milk through the sample line. The control unit knows how much milk must be pumped and can take precisely enough milk samples distributed over the pumping operation such that an accurate representative sample is obtained.
The present invention relates to an animal husbandry system, wherein a group of animals (2) can move about freely in an area (1), the system comprising identification means configured for determining the identity of each individual animal, tracking means configured for tracking the position of each individual animal, and attention means configured for identifying an attention animal having a predetermined condition, wherein the system is configured for automatically determining a subgroup of animals that have been in a predetermined relationship with the attention animal. The determination of such a subgroup is highly useful. For example, it can be established whether the animals in the subgroup also have the predetermined condition of the attention animal. This is helpful in order to be able to contain the spreading of the predetermined condition, if this is desired.
A feeding system for feeding animals, in particular cattle, comprises an autonomous feeding device with a holder for receiving a batch of feed. The holder has a maximum feed load. A feed quantity measuring device measures the quantity of feed which is available for consumption by the animals at feeding places. A control system determines at a first moment a feed requirement of the feeding places on the basis of a feeding criterion and the measured quantity of feed at the feeding places. The control system selects a first feeding place with a feed requirement. Then the control system determines a required feed quantity which is equal to a first feed quantity determined for the first feeding place, and one or more further feed quantities determined for one or more further feeding places selected by the control system from the feeding places with a feed requirement, if said further feed quantities can be added to the first feed quantity without exceeding the maximum feed load. If the required feed quantity is smaller than a threshold value for a minimum feed load, the control system adds to the required feed quantity one or more additional feed quantities which are intended for one or more additional feeding places selected by the control system from the feeding places which do not yet have a feed requirement at the first moment. The control system determines the additional feeding places such that the feed quantity to be loaded is equal to or greater than the threshold value for the minimum feed load.
A01J 5/013 - On-site detection of mastitis in milk
G01N 21/78 - Systems in which material is subjected to a chemical reaction, the progress or the result of the reaction being investigated by observing the effect on a chemical indicator producing a change of colour
A milking system (1) is provided for sampling (4) and analysing (5) milk, which comprises a milking device, a sampling device to extract a milk sample, and an analysis device for the sample. The analysis device comprises a cassette (7) with an analysis tape (10) having a carrier layer with separate vertical flow analysis pads (11) provided thereon, a tape displacer (14), a sample provision device providing a droplet (22) of the sample to a selected analysis pad, a sensor (23) to sense a response in the analysis pad after provision of the sample, and a control unit (16). The analysis pads (11) comprise a reagent pad (30) with a reagent reacting with a predetermined compound in the sample, a priming pad (34) with a priming agent to change a property of the sample that enhances the reaction, and a bonding layer between the reagent pad and the priming pad, and comprising a first (31) and second (33) adhesive layer, and a support layer (32) therebetween. The control unit processes the said response, and indicates the presence or concentration of the compound in the sample. The bonding layer has a plurality of throughgoing holes (35), each hole having a diameter of at least about 0.15 mm. This set-up for the analysis tape is easily produced with secure bonding, no or less deformation and more reliable analysis results. Similarly an analysis tape and a method to produce the analysis tape are provided.
G01N 21/78 - Systems in which material is subjected to a chemical reaction, the progress or the result of the reaction being investigated by observing the effect on a chemical indicator producing a change of colour
44 - Medical, veterinary, hygienic and cosmetic services; agriculture, horticulture and forestry services
Goods & Services
Systems for the detection of parameters of livestock animals, namely for detection of oestrus; Systems for the detection of gait abnormalities in mammals; Mammalian birth detection systems. Consultancy relating to the use and application of apparatus containing embedded software for animal husbandry.
A calving monitoring system for monitoring an animal at the end of the expected gestation period includes a camera device for repeatedly taking images of the animal, a control unit for generating calving information from the images taken, and an alert device for sending an alert message according to the calving information generated. The control unit is configured so as, in each image taken, to recognize an animal image, to segment the animal image into multiple animal parts including a torso, to determine a parameter value relating to first pixels of said torso in the taken images as a time-dependent parametric function, and to detect contractions when the parameter value meets a predetermined contraction criterion. The criterion is that the parameter value exhibits at least two peaks in the predetermined time duration which have at least a predetermined minimum width and/or a predetermined minimum height.
