Patent ID: 8181598

Claim:
A method for controlling the milking of an animal by a milking machine comprising at least one teat cup having a flexible teat receiving liner arranged inside a teat cup shell, wherein, during milking, a vacuum is applied to a lower part of the interior of the flexible teat receiving liner to draw milk from a teat received therein while the flexible teat receiving liner is periodically opened and collapsed by application of a pulsating massage vacuum between the flexible teat receiving liner and the teat cup shell, said method comprising the steps of: measuring repeatedly a vacuum level in an upper part of the interior of the flexible teat receiving liner; depending on said repeatedly measured vacuum level, interrupting said periodic opening and collapsing of the flexible teat receiving liner by keeping the flexible teat receiving liner collapsed for a period of time in order to allow milk to refill milk ducts and milk cisterns of the animal, said teat cup remaining in place on said teat during said interrupting of said periodic opening and collapsing of the flexible teat receiving liner by keeping the flexible teat receiving liner collapsed; and after said period of time has lapsed, restarting the periodic opening and collapsing of the flexible teat receiving liner, wherein said measuring, interrupting, and restarting steps are repeated during the milking.