Automated Milk Dosing Module With Needle Position Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual biomarker measurements in animal milk samples are time-consuming and demanding, requiring high administrative and cleanliness standards to prevent contamination, necessitating an automated solution to reduce operator workload and enhance farm productivity.
Innovation Solution
A dosing module that applies milk samples to dry sticks using a needle and pumps, with a position adjustment mechanism and evacuator to minimize contamination and facilitate modular, automatic biomarker value measurement, allowing for regular replacement of components to maintain efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual biomarker measurements are performed on milk samples, then measurement capability is achieved, but time consumption and operator workload increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into modular components: a dosing module for automated milk sample application, a cassette module holding multiple dry sticks, and a reader module for analysis. This segmentation enables automated high-throughput measurement while reducing manual intervention time.
Solution Approach 2:
The dosing module automatically applies milk samples to dry sticks without manual intervention. The system self-manages the measurement process including sample application, incubation, and reading, significantly reducing operator time expenditure.
2Measurement precision
If manual handling of multiple dry sticks is performed, then individual animal measurements are achieved, but contamination risk increases due to cleanliness demands
Solution Approach 1:
The dosing module extracts and applies milk samples through a controlled needle mechanism directly onto individual dry sticks within the cassette. This isolated application method prevents cross-contamination between samples and maintains measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle acts as an intermediary between the milk sample source and the dry stick, enabling controlled transfer of samples while preventing direct contact between operator hands and multiple samples, thereby reducing contamination risk.
3Ease of operation
If automated dosing system is implemented, then operator workload is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated system is segmented into replaceable modules (dosing module, cassette, reader). This modularity reduces operational complexity as users only need to handle simple module replacement rather than complex automated system configuration, while still achieving automation benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The cassette with dry sticks is designed as a disposable unit that can be quickly replaced. This simplifies operation as users don't need to clean or maintain the measurement sticks, reducing operational complexity while enabling automated high-throughput processing.
4Productivity
If continuous automated measurement is implemented, then productivity increases, but component wear and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The dosing module is designed as a separate replaceable unit containing wear-prone components like the needle and pump. This segmentation allows easy replacement of worn components without affecting the entire system, maintaining continuous productivity while simplifying maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The cassette with dry sticks is designed as a disposable unit that is replaced when exhausted. This eliminates maintenance of the measurement medium while enabling continuous automated operation. The dosing module components can also be replaced rather than repaired, streamlining maintenance.
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 dosing module enables continuous, automated biomarker measurement with minimal operator effort, reducing maintenance and operational costs by separating consumable and wear-prone components, ensuring continuous farm operations without requiring on-site technical assistance.
Implementation Method 1
a first pump, configured to provide milk from the milk insertion connection to the needle
Implementation Method 2
an evacuator, arranged to intercept liquid output by the needle
Data Source
AI summary
A dosing module (137) in an agricultural environment, arranged to apply a milk sample of an animal (100) onto a dry stick (180a, 180b, 180c). The dosing module (137) includes a milk insertion connection (340) arranged to receive milk; a needle (350) configured to receive the milk and apply the received milk to the dry stick (180a, 180b, 180c); a first pump (611), configured to provide milk from the milk insertion connection (340) to the needle (350); and a position adjustment mechanism (510) configured to adjust the needle (350) between a retracted position (α) above the dry stick (180a, 180b, 180c) when dosing milk to the dry stick (180a, 180b, 180c), and at an extended position (β) when flushing milk through the needle (350); and an evacuator (195) arranged to intercept liquid output by the needle (350).