Reagent Pad Imaging in Milking Systems for Lower Reagent Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing milking systems face challenges in achieving high throughput while minimizing the use of reagents, as rapid milk analysis requires high reagent concentrations, which are resource-intensive, or longer analysis times reduce throughput.
Innovation Solution
The milking system extends the reaction time by maintaining a reagent pad in the camera's field of view for longer than one sampling period, allowing the use of lower reagent concentrations and enabling analysis over multiple positions, thereby increasing available time for chemical reactions and improving measurement precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the sampling and analysis device samples and analyses milk at the same rapid rhythm as consecutive milkings (high throughput), then the throughput is improved, but the reagent concentration must be increased which leads to higher reagent usage
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the observation strategy by capturing images at multiple time points during the reaction process. The camera device takes images at different positions of the tape as it moves, allowing the system to adaptively select the best image for analysis based on reaction progress, thereby extending effective analysis time without reducing throughput
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by capturing multiple images during the reaction process before final analysis is complete. By taking images at intermediate positions and storing them for later comparison, the system prepares multiple candidate images that can be evaluated to determine the optimal analysis point, extending the effective reaction observation window
2Loss of substance
If less reagent is used in the reagent pad, then reagent usage is reduced, but the analysis time increases which lowers the throughput
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates optical copies (images) of the reagent pad at multiple time points during the reaction. By capturing images as the tape moves through different positions and storing these copies for comparison, the system can analyze the reaction progress over an extended period without requiring additional reagent or physical reagent pads, thereby maintaining high throughput while using less reagent
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds the time dimension to the analysis by capturing images at multiple positions along the tape's movement path. Instead of relying solely on a single snapshot in time, the system utilizes the spatial-temporal dimension created by tape movement, allowing analysis of reaction progress across multiple time points using the same physical reagent pad
3Duration of action of moving object
If the camera device observes the reagent pad for longer than one sampling period, then the analysis time is extended allowing lower reagent concentration, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The moving tape mechanism serves dual purposes: it transports the reagent pad through the system and simultaneously provides temporal sampling by moving the pad through different camera field positions. The tape's inherent movement, required for continuous operation, automatically creates the time-extension effect without requiring separate mechanisms for extended observation
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
This approach allows for a significant reduction in reagent usage while maintaining or improving throughput by extending the analysis time, making the system more efficient and flexible in handling multiple dairy animals and varying milking schedules.
Implementation Method 1
a tape that is lengthwise provided with a series of consecutive reagent pads that are configured to provide a detectable response in the presence of at least one substance in the sample
Implementation Method 2
a camera device operably connected to the control unit, and arranged to obtain an image of said reagent pad supplied with said droplet of the sample
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
AI summary
There is provided a milking system with a milking device, a milking control, a milk line in fluid connection with the milking device, a sampling and analysis device (14) to take a sample of the milk from the milk line and to analyse milk from the sample. The milking control is arranged to control the milking device on the basis of the analysis. The sampling and analysis device comprises a control unit, a tape reel (17-1) provided with a tape (18) that is lengthwise provided with a series of consecutive reagent pads (19) that provide a detectable response in the presence of a substance in the sample, a tape mover (24) to move the tape, a dosing device (20) to supply a part of the sample onto a reagent pad on the tape, and a camera device (23) to obtain an image of the reagent pad supplied with the droplet, and an analysis device to analyse the obtained images to provide to the milking control device an indication of a presence or concentration of said substance. The camera device has a field of view (25) that contains a plurality of reagent pads of the series of consecutive reagent pads. This allows to observe the reaction in the reagent pad for a much longer time. In turn, this allows to use much less reagent material, such as expensive enzymes, in the pads. It is particularly useful when observing double layer reagent types.