Patent ID: 8171883

Claim:
A milking arrangement comprising: a stationary structure; in the structure, at least one milking box adapted to receive an animal to be milked during a milking operation; a milking device having a milk conduit and a set of teatcups to be applied manually by an operator to the teats of the animal to be milked, each teatcup having an upper opening for introducing the respective teat, the milking device being adapted to draw milk from the animal via the teatcups and the milk conduit by means of an application of a low pressure; a support device adapted to carry the teatcups in at least an idle position, in which the teatcups are located not to interfere with the animal and the operator, and an intermediate position, in which the teatcups are located more closely to the teats of the animal than in the idle position and permit a respective teatcup to be manually gripped by the operator and moved onto the respective teat of the animal; and control equipment including a motor device and a control unit operable for controlling the support device and moving the teatcups in an automatic manner from the idle position to the intermediate position, wherein the teatcups are turned at least partly downwards in the idle position, wherein the arrangement includes in the structure a large number of milking boxes for receiving a respective animal to be milked during a respective milking operation, each milking box being operable by the operator and associated with a respective one of said milking device and a respective one of said support device, wherein the control equipment includes a primary sensor for sensing a primary state, the control equipment being adapted to initiate the movement of the support device, thereby moving the teatcups from the idle position to the intermediate position, in response to the sensed primary state, wherein the control equipment includes a secondary sensor for sensing a secondary state, wherein the control unit is configured to initiate the application of the low pressure in response to the secondary state, wherein the secondary state corresponds to the initiation of movement of the support device and initiation of movement of the teatcups from the idle position to the intermediate position wherein the milking device includes a milking member connected to the milk conduit and including a claw and the set of teatcups, and wherein the teatcups are connected to the claw by means of a respective short milk conduit.