# US 8,146,532 B2 · Automatic milking apparatus for laboratory animals > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,146,532 B2 - Document ID: US8146532B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/293,070 - Filed: 2007-02-07 - Published: 2009-03-26 - Granted: 2012-04-03 - Earliest claimed: 2006-03-16 - Assignees: Nihon University - Inventors: Toshi Watanabe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8146532B2 ## CPC - A01J 7/00: Accessories for milking machines or devices - A01J 5/0175: {Attaching of clusters} - A01J 5/045: {Taking milk-samples (sampling in general G01N1/00)} - G01N 1/10: in the liquid or fluent state {(burettes, pipettes B01L3/02; sampling of ground water E02D1/06; metering by volume of fluids or fluent solid material G01F11/00, G01F13/00)} - A61B 10/0045: {Devices for taking samples of body liquids} - A01J: MANUFACTURE OF DAIRY PRODUCTS - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An automatic milking apparatus for laboratory animals that can facilitate and stabilize the positioning of a teat cup 20 is provided for full automation of a milking operation. An end of a first milk tube 12 attached to a teat cup 20 for laboratory animals is attached to a free end of a flexible arm A having one end fixed to a suitable base (milk collecting container stand B). The flexible arm A includes a laminated body 40 including a long member 41 formed of a material that is flexible and after being flexed, can maintain the shape (for example, a lead plate) and a steel plate member 42, the laminated body 40 being coated by a coating member 50, 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 A including a secured part 53 formed at the one end, the secured part 53 preventing relative movement of the respective members. The tip of the flexible arm A is not displaced after being positioned. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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 having a rectangular shape in cross section, with one end fixed to a base, the flexible arm including a laminated body that includes a long member having a rectangular shape in cross section, formed of a material that is flexible and after being flexed, can maintain the shape and a steel plate member having a rectangular shape in cross section, 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The automatic milking apparatus for laboratory animals according to claim 1, characterized in that: 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. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The automatic milking apparatus for laboratory animals according to claim 2, characterized in that the long member in the flexible arm is any of an aluminum plate, a lead plate or a resin plate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The automatic milking apparatus for laboratory animals according to claim 3, characterized in that the flexible arm includes a structure in which a resin sheet is provided between the layers of the long member and the steel plate member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The automatic milking apparatus for laboratory animals according to claim 2, characterized in that the flexible arm includes a structure in which a resin sheet is provided between the layers of the long member and the steel plate member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The automatic milking apparatus for laboratory animals according to claim 1, characterized in that the long member in the flexible arm is any of an aluminum plate, a lead plate or a resin plate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The automatic milking apparatus for laboratory animals according to claim 6, characterized in that the flexible arm includes a structure in which a resin sheet is provided between the layers of the long member and the steel plate member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The automatic milking apparatus for laboratory animals according to claim 1, characterized in that the flexible arm includes a structure in which a resin sheet is provided between the layers of the long member and the steel plate member. ### Claim 9 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. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The automatic milking apparatus for laboratory animals according to claim 9, characterized in that the long member in the flexible arm is any of an aluminum plate, a lead plate or a resin plate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The automatic milking apparatus for laboratory animals according to claim 10, characterized in that the flexible arm includes a structure in which a resin sheet is provided between the layers of the long member and the steel plate member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The automatic milking apparatus for laboratory animals according to claim 9, characterized in that the flexible arm includes a structure in which a resin sheet is provided between the layers of the long member and the steel plate member. ### Claim 13 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. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The automatic milking apparatus for laboratory animals according to claim 13, characterized in that the long member in the flexible arm is any of an aluminum plate, a lead plate or a resin plate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The automatic milking apparatus for laboratory animals according to claim 14, characterized in that the flexible arm includes a structure in which a resin sheet is provided between the layers of the long member and the steel plate member. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The automatic milking apparatus for laboratory animals according to claim 13, characterized in that the flexible arm includes a structure in which a resin sheet is provided between the layers of the long member and the steel plate member.