Milking System Dosing Device Nozzle Meniscus Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing milking systems face inefficiencies in sample control and resource management, particularly in robotic milking systems that require prolonged operation without human intervention, due to inadequate control over the supply of milk samples onto reagent pads, leading to resource wastage and reduced measurement accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A milking system with a dosing device featuring a nozzle and a flat wall part that forms a well-defined meniscus, allowing precise control over sample delivery to reagent pads, reducing resource usage, and enhancing measurement reliability by minimizing waste and spillage, while enabling longer operation without human intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a known sampling device with dry sticks and funnels is used, then the device structure is simple, but the sample supply control is poor and reagent resources are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical gravity-based dripping system with a pump-controlled liquid delivery system. The pump precisely controls the amount of liquid sample delivered to each reagent pad, eliminating uncontrolled overflow and reagent waste while maintaining ease of operation through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the delivery parameter from passive gravity flow to active pump-controlled flow. By regulating the pump speed and delivery volume, the system achieves precise sample supply control, reducing reagent waste while keeping the system easy to operate through automated parameter adjustment.
2Reliability
If larger reagent areas and flushing holes are used to improve sample control, then sample delivery reliability improves, but device complexity and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the need for large mechanical flushing holes and extensive reagent areas with a precision pump system. The pump delivers exact volumes of sample directly to compact reagent pads, achieving reliable sample delivery control without increasing device complexity or requiring large structural components.
3Duration of action of moving object
If more reagents are provided on strips to enable longer operation, then operational duration increases, but sampling efficiency decreases due to resource wastage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the sample delivery parameter from uncontrolled gravity flow to precision pump-controlled delivery. This reduces the volume of sample and reagent needed per measurement, allowing more reagents to be accommodated on compact strips while maintaining high sampling efficiency and enabling extended operational duration without human intervention.
4Quantity of substance
If excess liquid is allowed in the system to ensure sufficient sampling, then sampling adequacy is maintained, but measurement accuracy decreases due to spillage and waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces excess liquid management through large flushing holes with a pump system that delivers precise volumes. The pump provides exactly the required sample volume to each reagent pad without overflow or spillage, maintaining adequate sampling for accuracy while eliminating the need for excess liquid that causes measurement errors.
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 efficient and controlled sample delivery, reducing resource consumption, improving measurement accuracy, and extending the operational time of the sampling and analysis device by allowing smaller reagent pads and fewer human interventions.
Implementation Method 1
an optical sensor device arranged to detect optical radiation from said reagent pad supplied with said part of the sample, and to analyse the detected optical radiation to provide an indication of a presence or concentration of said at least one substance
Implementation Method 2
a pump that is controlled by the control unit and is arranged for pumping liquid through the supply line towards the nozzle
Data Source
AI summary
A milking system includes a milking device, a milk line, and a sampling and analysis device for milk from the milk line, that includes a control unit, a carrier with reagent pads to detect a substance in the sample, a dosing device to dose a sample onto a reagent pad, an sensor device to detect radiation from that reagent pad, and to analyse the detected radiation to indicate a presence or concentration of said substance. The dosing device includes a nozzle with a supply line, a pump for pumping liquid to the nozzle, a flat wall part, and a mover to press the flat wall part and the nozzle against each other to close the nozzle. In this way, the nozzle can be filled completely to a known level and without bubbles. Thereafter, the sample pump can provide a sample droplet with known volume, which enables better control over the sample supply process.