Automatic milking unit

Claim 2

An automatic release mechanism for a milking appratus, comprising a milk receiving receptacle milk conduit means connecting a milking apparatus to the receptacle for conducting milk to the receptacle, valve means in said milk conduit means for opening and closing said milk conduit means, second conduit means connecting a source of vacuum to the upper portion of said receptacle, valve opening means for opening said valve means to establish a vacuum through the receptacle and milk conduit means to the milking apparatus, float means disposed within the receptacle and disposed to rise and descend within the receptacle in accordance with the level of milk therein, a magnetic member, a magnetically operable switch member, a first of said members being connected to said float means and the second of said members being disposed adjacent the bottom of the rectptacle, said switch member disposed to be actuated by said maGnetic member when the float means is at a lower portion in the receptacle, and valve closing means for closing the valve means on actuation of said switch member as the level of milk descends within said receptacle and said float means descends to said lower position.

Claim 3

The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said magnetic member is connected to the float means and switch member is connected to said receptacle.

Claim 4

The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said valve opening means includes a solenoid connected to the valve means.

Claim 5

The mechanism of claim 3, wherein said switch member is interconnected with said solenoid whereby actuation of said switch member will deenergize the solenoid to permit closing of said valve means.

Claim 6

The mechanism of claim 2, and including a vertical post mounted centrally within the receptacle, said float means being annular and surrounding said post.

Claim 7

The mechanism of claim 5, wherein said switch member is located in the lower portion of said post, and said magnetic member is annular in shape and surrounds the post.

Claim 8

The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said valve closing means comprises a pressure responsive member connected to said valve means, said pressure responsive member being responsive to a differential in pressure between the atmosphere and the source vacuum and acting to urge the valve means to the closed position.

Claim 9

The mechanism of claim 7, wherein the pressure responsive member is a diaphragm operably connected to said valve means, one surface of said diaphragm being exposed to the atmosphere and the opposite surface of the diaphragm being exposed to said vacuum source.

Claim 10

the mechanism of claim 1, wherein said switch member is a reed switch.

Claim 11

The mechanism of claim 5, and including a drain outlet in the lower end of the receptacle, said drain outlet being disposed to be closed off by the float means when the float means is in the lower position.

Claim 12

An automatic milking system comprising a supporting structure located adjacent a milking stall, a milking apparatus mounted for movement on the supporting structure between an upper storage position and a lower milking position, biasing means for biasing the milking apparatus to the upper storage position, latching means for latching the milking apparatus in the lower position, vacuum supply means for establishing a vacuum to the milking apparatus to thereby withdraw milk from an animal''s teats, automatic release means connected to the milking apparatus and responsive to a predetermined minimum flow of milk for closing the vacuum means to the milking apparatus and releasing said milking apparauts from the animal''s teats, and means responsive to operation of said automatic release means for unlatching said latching means to permit the milking apparatus to be moved by said biasing means to the upper storage position.

Claim 13

An automatic milking system comprising a supporting structure located adjacent a milking stall, a milking apparatus mounted for movement on the supporting structure between an upper storage position and a lower milking position, biasing means for biasing the milking apparatus to the upper storage position, latching means for latching the milking apparatus in the lower position, vacuum supply means for establishing a vacuum to the milking apparatus to thereby withdraw milk from an animal''s teats, automatic release means connected to the milking apparatus and responsive to a predetermined minimum flow of milk for closing the vacuum means to the milking apparatus and releasing said milking apparauts from the animal''s teats, and means responsive to operation of said automatic release means for unlatching said latching means to permit the milking apparatus to be moved by said biasing means to the upper storage position.

Claim 14

The system of claim 11, wherein the foece of said biasing means is less than the force of said vacuum, whereby the biasing means will not act to move the milking apparatus upwardly until the milking apparatus is removed from the animal''s teats through loss of pressure differential.

Claim 15

The system of claim 11, wherein said supporting structure includes a generally vertical column and a housing mounted for sliding movement on said column, said milking apparatus being connected to said housing.

Claim 16

The system of claim 13, wherein said biasing means is engaged with said housing and is located above said housing.

Claim 17

The system of claim 13, wherein said latching means is engageable with said housing to lock the milking apparatus in the lower milking position.

Claim 18

The system of claim 13, and including means for rotating the housing through a given arc with respect to the axis of the column as the milking apparatus is moved from the lower milking position to the upper storage position.

Claim 19

The system of claim 16, wherein said means for rotating the housing comprising a guide track connected to the column and a follower connected to the houSing, the upper portion of said guide track being straight and the lower portion of said track being curved whereby travel of said follower on said curved portion will act to rotate said housing through said arc.

Claim 20

The system of claim 11, and including means responsive to latching of said milking apparatus in the lower position for actuating said vacuum supply means and establishing a vacuum to said milking apparatus.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 18, and including timing means, means responsive to latching of said milking apparatus in the lower position for actuating said timing means and timing out a pre-set time period, and means responsive to the timing out of said preset period for rendering said automatic release means operable, whereby said automatic release means will be operable to close the vacuum means to the milking apparatus if the milk flow is below said minimum flow rate.

Claim 22

An automatic milking system comprising a supporting structure located adjacent a milking stall, a milking apparatus mounted for movement on the supporting structure between an upper storage position and a lower milking position, biasing means for biasing the milking apparatus to the upper storage position, latching means for latching the milking apparatus in the lower milking position, vacuum supply means, a milk receiving receptacle, milk conduit means connecting the milking apparatus to the receptacle for conducting milk to the receptacle, valve means in said milk conduit means, second conduit means connecting said vacuum supply means to the upper portion of the receptacle, means responsive to operation of said latching means for opening said valve means to establish a vacuum through the receptacle and milk conduit means to the milking apparatus, float means disposed within the receptacle and disposed to rise and descend within the receptacle in accordance with the level of milk therein, a magnetic member, a magnetically operable switch member, a first of said members being connected to said float means and the second of said members being disposed adjacent the bottom of the receptacle, said switch member disposed to be actuated by said magnetic member when the float means is at a lower portion in the receptacle, valve closing means for closing the valve means on acuation of said switch member as the level of milk descends within said receptacle and said float means descends to said lower position, and means responsive to the operation of said valve closing means for unlatching said latching means to permit the miling apparatus to be moved by said biasing means to the upper storage position.

Claim 23

An automatic milking system comprising a supporting structure located adjacent a milking stall, a milking apparatus mounted for movement on the supporting structure between an upper storage position and a lower milking position, biasing means for biasing the milking apparatus to the upper storage position, latching means for latching the milking apparatus in the lower milking position, vacuum supply means, a milk receiving receptacle, milk conduit means connecting the milking apparatus to the receptacle for conducting milk to the receptacle, valve means in said milk conduit means, second conduit means connecting said vacuum supply means to the upper portion of the receptacle, means responsive to operation of said latching means for opening said valve means to establish a vacuum through the receptacle and milk conduit means to the milking apparatus, float means disposed within the receptacle and disposed to rise and descend within the receptacle in accordance with the level of milk therein, a magnetic member, a magnetically operable switch member, a first of said members being connected to said float means and the second of said members being disposed adjacent the bottom of the receptacle, said switch member disposed to be actuated by said magnetic member when the float means is at a lower portion in the receptacle, valve closing means for closing the valve means on acuation of said switch member as the level of milk descends within said receptacle and said float means descends to said lower position, and means responsive to the operation of said valve closing means for unlatching said latching means to permit the miling apparatus to be moved by said biasing means to the upper storage position.

Claim 24

The system of claim 13, and including an arm assembly connected to said housing and supporting said milking apparatus, said arm assembly having adjustment means for varying the position of said milking apparatus with respect to the housing.

Claim 25

The system of claim 21, wherein said adjustment means includes a ball member connected to the milking apparatus, socket means connected to said arm assembly and disposed to receive said ball member, and locking means for locking said ball member to said socket means.

Claim 26

The system of claim 11, and including mounting means for mounting the supporting structure for horizontal movement with respect to the milking stall.

Claim 27

The system of claim 23, wherein said mounting means includes a generally horizontal track disposed a substantial distance above said milking stall, guide means disposed to ride on the track, and suspending means for suspending the supporting structure from said guide means, whereby the supporting structure can be moved along the milking stall as the guide means rides on said track.

Claim 28

The system of claim 24, and including means engageable with the supporting structure at a location spaced a substantial distance beneath the track for maintaining the supporting structure in a generally vertical attitude.

Claim 29

The mechanism of claim 1, and including means responsive to movement of the milking appartus to a mIlking position for operating said valve opening means to thereby open said valve means and establish a vacuum to the milking apparatus.

Claim 30

The mechanism of claim 1, and including a fixed supporting structure disposed adjacent said milking stall, said receptacle being mounted on the supporting structure.