Automatic milking apparatus for laboratory animals

An automatic milking apparatus for laboratory animals in which an end of a milk tube having another end connected to a teat cup for laboratory animals to be fitted onto a udder of a laboratory animal is connected to a negative-pressure generating source via a milk collecting container to collect milk from the laboratory animal into the milk collecting container through suction pulsation provided by the negative-pressure generating source, characterized in that

• the end of the milk tube connected to the teat cup for laboratory animals is supported by a free end of a flexible arm with one end fixed to a base, the flexible arm including a laminated body that includes a long member formed of a material that is flexible and after being flexed, can maintain the shape and a steel plate member arranged along the long member, the laminated body being coated by a coating member, the members being in contact with each other in such a manner that they slip relative to each other upon being flexed in their entirety, the flexible arm including a secured part formed at the one end, the secured part preventing relative movement of the respective members,
• characterized in that:
• the automatic milking apparatus for laboratory animals further comprises a milk collecting container stand that is a transparent cylindrical body;
• a vertical hole to hold the milk collecting container is formed in the milk collecting container stand;
• a scale for measuring an amount of milk in the milk collecting container is provided on an inner surface of the vertical hole;
• and the secured part of the flexible arm is fixed to the milk collecting container stand.

An automatic milking apparatus for laboratory animals in which an end of a milk tube having another end connected to a teat cup for laboratory animals to be fitted onto a udder of a laboratory animal is connected to a negative-pressure generating source via a milk collecting container to collect milk from the laboratory animal into the milk collecting container through suction pulsation provided by the negative-pressure generating source, characterized in that

• the end of the milk tube connected to the teat cup for laboratory animals is supported by a free end of a flexible arm with one end fixed to a base, the flexible arm including a laminated body that includes a long member formed of a material that is flexible and after being flexed, can maintain the shape and a steel plate member arranged along the long member, the laminated body being coated by a coating member, the members being in contact with each other in such a manner that they slip relative to each other upon being flexed in their entirety, the flexible arm including a secured part formed at the one end, the secured part preventing relative movement of the respective members,
• wherein a milk tube holder that can slidably support the milk tube is attached to the free end of the flexible arm;
• and the milk tube is supported by the free end of the flexible arm via the milk tube holder,
• characterized in that:
• the automatic milking apparatus for laboratory animals further comprises a milk collecting container stand that is a transparent cylindrical body;
• a vertical hole to hold the milk collecting container is formed in the milk collecting container stand;
• a scale for measuring an amount of milk in the milk collecting container is provided on an inner surface of the vertical hole;
• and the secured part of the flexible arm is fixed to the milk collecting container stand.