Importance

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Abstract

At least part of the length of a teat cup for milking the teat of an animal is flexible or deformable or both. The teat cup is mounted on a robot arm in a fully automated milking system so as to be releasably retained on the robot arm in a fixed, predetermined orientation relative thereto. A compression spring coated with vulcanized rubber is retained in the cover or jacket of the teat cup. A cord connected to the upper part of the teat cup is pulled to bend the teat cup by at least about 90.degree. relative to the vertical so that undesired material is less likely to enter the opening at the top of the teat cup and the teat cup is more compact and shorter between milkings. The cord used to bend the teat cup also function to retain the teat cup firmly on the robot arm in its fixed orientation relative thereto when the teat cup is not connected or being connected to a teat. When the cord is released the spring in the teat cup's jacket causes the teat cup to assume its operable upright disposition. The spring also facilitates the pulsation function of the teat cup and reduces the wear to which the pulsation liner is otherwise subjected.

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First Claim