The invention relates to a method and a device making it possible automatically to control the opening and/or the closing of valves blocking the exit tube 3 of a collector of the milking bundle of a milking machine, interconnecting several milking cup shafts which are supplied with reduced pressure in order to suck on the teat of the animal and to suck out the milk which leaves therefrom. These collectors, each consisting of a hollow body 1 forming a vacuum chamber, comprise at least one inlet tube 2a and 2b connected to the shaft of a milking cup, and an outlet tube 3 connected to a central reception device in which the vacuum is generated and the milk is collected. This control device comprises a rod 9 located in a vertical plane, the head 9b of which is associated with the support of the collector and the foot 9a of which is mounted articulated (arrow A) on a fixed anchoring point 10 of the upper wall 1b of the hollow body 1 of the said collector, held suspended from the said rod 9, the angular expansion (arrow A) of the latter with respect to the collector controls the actuation mechanism of the shutter 4 which moves (arrow F) the latter in front of the seat of the outlet tube 3. Applications: milking machine collectors. <IMAGE>
