Inflatable Teat Cup Scrubber for Gentle Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing teat dip application systems are not thorough enough in cleaning dairy animal teats and may not be gentle enough, potentially leading to mastitis and contamination during milking.
Innovation Solution
A teat dip application system with a teat cup featuring inflatable teat holders and scrubbers with different textures, located below teat dip inlet ports, which provide varying holding strengths and cleansing patterns, along with a robotic arm interface and drain port for efficient and gentle cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional teat dip applicators with brushes are used, then cleaning coverage is achieved, but the cleaning process is not thorough enough and may be too harsh on teats
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different textures to different regions of the scrubber element to provide varying cleaning intensities. The scrubber includes a first region with a first texture and a second region with a second texture, allowing gentle cleaning in some areas and more thorough cleaning in others, thus achieving both thoroughness and gentleness simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The scrubber element is designed to be deformable and adaptable to the teat surface. The scrubber can conform to the contours of the teat, providing dynamic adjustment of contact pressure and cleaning intensity, which prevents damage while ensuring thorough cleaning coverage
2Reliability
If teat preparation is performed before milking to prevent contamination, then milk line contamination is reduced, but additional time and steps are required in the milking process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated teat cup assembly. The teat cup includes both the cleaning function (with scrubber and fluid delivery) and the milking function, allowing teat preparation and milking to be performed in a continuous, integrated process rather than as separate steps, thereby reducing total time while maintaining contamination prevention
3Reliability
If teat sanitizers are applied in the teat cup liner before milking, then teat sanitation is improved, but sanitizer residue may enter the milk line and contaminate milk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the sanitation function from the milking function by providing a dedicated sanitation mode. The control system can operate the teat cup in sanitation mode (applying sanitizer through inlet ports) or milking mode (with sealed liner), preventing sanitizer residue from contaminating the milk line during actual milking operations
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves more thorough and gentle cleaning of teats, reducing the risk of mastitis and contamination, while ensuring effective removal of sanitizers and dirt from the milking process.
Implementation Method 1
one or more inflatable teat holders and scrubbers located inside the teat cup
Implementation Method 2
the different textures provide different holding strengths, having different levels of coefficients of friction, on the teat and different cleansing and scrubbing patterns
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A teat dip application system (10) includes a teat cup (12) having an opening (15) for inserting therein a teat (13) of a diary animal, one or more teat dip inlet ports (14) located on the teat cup (12), one or more inflatable teat holders/scrubbers (20) located inside the teat cup, and one or more inflation ports (22) in fluid communication with the one or more teat holder/scrubbers (20).