A device for milking animals is provided with at least two milking robots, each for automatically connecting at least one teat cup to a teat of an animal. Each milking robot is provided with a milking vacuum unit for generating a milking vacuum for milking an animal. The device is provided wit a common ring line and wit a controllable, central vacuum system for generating a vacuum with a first pressure on the common ring line. Each milking vacuum unit is connected to the ring line via a passage, a control device being provided for controlling the size of the passage.