Importance

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Abstract

A mechanism that automatically attaches teat cups to a cow's teats including four telescopically extensible members which each carry a teat cup via a teat cup support which resiliently supports its corresponding teat cup in an upright position. Each extensible member has its own stepper motor to raise and lower the corresponding teat cup and a further stepper motor to move the extensible member horizontally within limits. An ultra-sonic radiation member is carried on a platform between the teat cups as seen in plan which emits a horizontal ultra-sonic beam that is reflected and focused upwardly and caused by movement of the reflector systematically to scan the cow's udder and to locate the teats by their comparatively shorter distances from the reflector. The disposition of the teats is thus sensed by a sensor unit which controls a stepper motors and causes the extensible members independently to raise the teat cups to be received by and attached to corresponding teats for the milking operation.

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First Claim