Mechanical Teat Stimulation for Enhanced Milk Letdown

A milk expression system that optimizes pumping parameters based on the timing and intensity of the milk ejection reflex. The system employs an adaptive pressure profile that maintains a non-zero baseline under-pressure during the milk ejection phase, rather than relying solely on the vacuum level. This profile is generated by detecting the milk ejection reflex and adapting the pressure settings to match the user's milk flow characteristics. The system incorporates features like smart classifier-based detection of milk ejection onset, dynamic pressure adjustment based on milk delivery, and real-time monitoring of milk flow and duct dimensions.

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A breast pump that automatically mimics the natural sucking behavior of a nursing infant, allowing for continuous breast milk collection while minimizing discomfort. The pump employs a unique air control system that alternates between suction and pressure to mimic the infant's suckling actions, while an integrated detector monitors milk release. The pump's deformable membrane is also controlled by an adjustable valve system, allowing precise manipulation of the breast. The system enables continuous milk collection without the need for manual operation, while the integrated sound recording capability allows parents to hear their baby's sounds during feeding.

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Autonomous milking machine with a rotating, telescoping arm for attaching milking heads to cow teats. The machine has a milking parlor where cows are milked. The milking arm has a horizontal and vertical movement mechanism to bring the milking heads to the cow's teats. It rotates around a horizontal axis, extends vertically, and slides horizontally. This allows precise positioning of the milking heads for attaching to the cow's teats. The rotating arm enables the heads to reach the teats from different angles. The telescoping and horizontal movements allow adjustment for cow height and width variations.

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Breast pump that integrates advanced suction control with personalized milk expression to support breastfeeding mothers. The pump employs intelligent suction management, allowing precise control over vacuum pressure and compression patterns, while incorporating dynamic compression cycles that mimic the natural feeding process. This approach enables optimal milk flow and pressure distribution, reducing discomfort and promoting successful breastfeeding.

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Robotic end effector for animal handling applications like milking that is designed to be used in dirty farming environments. The end effector has an interior housing with access points. One aperture allows the actuator to interact with the animal. Another aperture provides internal access to clean and flush the housing and actuator. This allows dirt and liquids to be flushed out through the animal aperture. A nozzle inside the housing can spray cleaning fluid to flush the interior. This prevents dirt from accumulating inside the housing and impacting performance.

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Mechanical pneumatic pulsator that can switch between milking and massage with a single spindle movement by means of the mechanical structure thereof. The pulsator can perform milking when desired, and to massage by creating a bypass channel.

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Milk liner for milking apparatus that improves milk extraction and reduces teat discomfort by generating a massage effect. The liner has a ribbed portion and an unribbed portion that sequentially collapse inward when pressure differences are applied. Alternatively, the liner has a tapering portion that causes progressive inward collapse. This peristaltic massage action moves milk up the teat, reducing fluid accumulation and teat congestion compared to conventional liners. The liners are used in teat cups of milking apparatuses that apply suction and cyclic pressure variations to the liners.

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Milking system that adjusts vacuum pressure at each teat during milking to avoid harming teats while efficiently extracting milk. The system monitors milk flow from each teat and increases vacuum pressure when all flows exceed a threshold. It decreases vacuum when flows drop below thresholds. This prevents over-extraction from high flows and prevents under-extraction from low flows. The system detects teat flow rates and dynamically adjusts vacuum pressure to match.

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Milking system that improves milk extraction from cows with teats of varying sizes and shapes. The system uses sensors to measure teat size, and adjusts milking parameters like vacuum based on the measurement. This prevents slipping, air leakage, and inefficient milking that can occur when using a one-size-fits-all liner. By customizing the milking parameters for each teat, it improves extraction from atypical teats without requiring multiple liners.

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End effector for robot arms used in animal farming operations like milking that can be cleaned internally to prevent dirt buildup. The end effector has a housing with multiple apertures to access the interior. An actuator inside the housing participates in the farming operation through one aperture. A nozzle inside the housing can flush the interior through another aperture. This allows thorough cleaning of the actuator and housing without sealing them off from dirt. The multiple apertures also provide ventilation to prevent moisture issues.

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Teat cup liner for milking machines that improves milk extraction and teat health. The liner has a unique barrel shape with a transition section and a triangular section. The combined attachment section and transition section length matches the average cow teat length after elongation during milking. This ensures consistent vacuum pressure. The triangular section collapses more uniformly compared to a two-part barrel. The liner also has a groove at the interface with the connection section to secure it in the teat cup. This improves attachment and prevents gaps for better vacuum seal. The liner can be injection molded from rubber or silicone.

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Milking device with pulsation system that reduces teat liner folding and irritation during milking. The pulsation system has adjustable valves that can change the pressure course inside the pulsation space during milking. The valves are controlled by a unit that receives feedback from a pressure gauge. This allows optimizing the pressure profile to prevent sudden folding of the teat liner. The valve passages can be adjusted during pulsation phases based on measured pressure compared to desired values. The adjustable valves and feedback control prevent the teat liner from suddenly collapsing during milking.

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Milking system that improves milk extraction efficiency and teat integrity by dynamically adjusting vacuum pressure for each teat based on animal and teat-specific data. The system uses sensors to measure vacuum pressure during milking, extracts historical data for each teat, and a processor calculates optimal vacuum levels for each teat during a session. This prevents over-vacuuming and ensures optimal milk flow for each teat.

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Breast pump with enhanced user feedback through a novel drive modulation system. The pump incorporates a drive that modulates its output voltage during the vacuum phase, creating a synchronized pressure waveform that provides tactile and auditory feedback to the user. This innovative approach enables the pump to generate specific pressure patterns that correspond to the natural physiological responses of the breast during milk expression.

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Milking device for milking dairy animals with pulsation devices that prevent teat liner folding during milking. The pulsation device has adjustable valves that control the pressure in the pulsation space between the teat liner and cup wall. The valves can be positioned during the pulsation phase to shape the pressure curve. This allows customizing the pressure profile to prevent the liner from folding during vacuum application. The device uses a control unit to generate signals to adjust the valve passages based on measured pressure and desired profiles. This allows optimizing the pulsation pressure to prevent teat damage.

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Teatcup liner for milking machines with improved behavior, particularly collapsing behavior and contact with the teat and barrel. The liner has a triangular or rectangular cross-section with varying wall thicknesses. The corner wall thickness decreases from upper to lower sections. The side wall thickness is constant. This allows complete barrel collapsing beneath the teat. The liner also has a short outlet portion and a separate mouthpiece. The length and depth of the mouthpiece are optimized. The liner attaches to the teatcup shell and improves milk flow and animal comfort.

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A wearable breast pump system that integrates into a bra, eliminating the need for separate pumping equipment. The system features a breast shield with integrated pump and diaphragm, a detachable milk collection container, and a control system that dynamically adjusts pumping parameters for optimal milk expression. The pump generates negative air pressure through a closed-loop system, while the diaphragm is removable for cleaning. The system maintains accurate milk measurement and flow rate through its integrated measurement system, eliminating the need for separate sensors or measurement devices.

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Milking cluster for automatic milking systems that allows flexible movement of the hose between the cow's teat and the milking equipment. The hose is guided by a pivotable hose guide that can move between a fixed position and a freely movable position within limits using a flexible element. This allows the hose to follow the teat as it moves during milking, preventing kinking and dislodging. The teat cup unit can also pivot to park the cup when not in use.

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Breast shield arrangement for a breast pump that enables enhanced milk extraction through a novel, curved design. The arrangement features a collapsible intermediate portion that creates a unique milk collection space between the first sealing portion and the port. The curved portion, with its distinctive concave and convex sections, creates a reservoir-like effect that captures milk from the breast, particularly the areola, while maintaining the vacuum pressure from the port. This design allows for precise milk collection without the need for additional ports or specialized inserts.

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Milking apparatus with improved teat cup design to reduce discomfort and enhance milk yield in lactating animals. The milking apparatus has a resiliently deformable liner nested inside a rigid shell. The liner has an outer hood and inner barrel that extend along the same length. The hood covers the shell. This allows independent pressure control between the nested sleeves. When a teat is inserted into the liner, vacuum is applied to the inner volume. The hood and barrel collapse on the teat. Then the space between the sleeves is cycled between high and low pressure to repeatedly collapse the barrel. This relieves congestion without full vacuum. The exposed inner surface of the hood provides access inside the liner for sensors or other modules.

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