Patent ID: 8166915

Claim:
A device for removing a teat cup ( 1 a ) from a teat of an animal, the device comprising: a cylinder ( 2 ) provided with a movable piston ( 3 ) dividing an inner space of the cylinder into i) a first compartment ( 4 ) and ii) a second compartment ( 5 ), the second compartment ( 5 ) permanently connected to ambient air; a connector ( 1 , 6 ) extending from the piston for connection to the teat cup ( 1 a ); and a valve mechanism ( 9 ) with i) a vacuum source connection ( 8 ) for connection to a vacuum source, ii) a connection to the first compartment ( 4 ) of the cylinder, and iii) a port in communication with ambient air, the valve mechanism being movable between a first position and a second position, in the first position the valve mechanism connects the vacuum source connection to the connection to the first compartment of the cylinder to subject the first compartment to vacuum, in the second position the valve mechanism connects the port in communication with the ambient air to the connection to the first compartment of the cylinder to subject the first compartment to ambient air pressure, wherein the piston ( 3 ) is adapted to provide a motion, when the valve mechanism ( 9 ) is in the first position, which removes the teat cup ( 1 a ) from the animal and moves the teat cup ( 1 a ) to a teat cup storing position, wherein said cylinder ( 2 ) further comprises i) an air passage ( 15 ) between the first compartment ( 4 ) and the second compartment ( 5 ), and ii) a passage valve member ( 16 ), the passage valve member ( 16 ) allowing a flow of air through the passage ( 15 ) with the passage valve member ( 16 ) in an open position, the passage valve member ( 16 ) preventing the flow of air through the passage ( 15 ) with the passage valve member ( 16 ) in a closed position, and the passage valve member ( 16 ) is adapted to be moved to the open position when the valve mechanism ( 9 ) is in the second position, the passage valve member movement controlled by a pressure difference between the first compartment ( 4 ) and ambient pressure such that the passage valve member is moved to the open position when the pressure difference is lower than a predetermined value.