MACHINE MILKING SYSTEM (VERSIONS) AND METHOD OF MACHINE MILKING Russian patent published in 2011 - IPC A01J5/17 

FIELD: agriculture.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to the sphere of agriculture. Proposed system of machine milking comprises a milking unit, a source of light to illuminate animal nipples, connected to the milking unit, a 2D matrix camera. The camera has several display elements, which may separately produce data on time of flight to identify distance for gripping and generate data into processing device to identify location of nipples in space. According to the second version the system additionally comprises a movable device designed to receive commands that characterise position of nipples, movement of device and its fixation on nipples, and electronic facility to grip outlet signal of matrix and to produce data that characterises location of animal's nipples. Proposed method of machine milking consists in the following. The movable device is set, the source of light is used to illuminate the area around the animal nipples, and the 2D matrix camera is applied, afterwards the data is processed to obtain 3D information. Then specified information is used to generate commands to move and fix movable device on nipples, the specified device is fixed on animal's udder.

EFFECT: invention provides for increased efficiency of milking unit operation.

3 cl, 3 dwg