JP4741303B2 - Milking equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a milking device for collecting breast milk from a human body.

  Conventionally, milking apparatuses that collect breast milk from a human body are known (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3). These milking devices are adapted to perform milking by applying negative pressure to the breast or the like by operating a pump communicating with the inside of the bowl-shaped member in a state where the breast or nipple is covered with the bowl-shaped member. Yes.

By the way, as a principle of the sucking movement mechanism that the baby sucks breast milk, in addition to the negative pressure formation corresponding to the suction by the pump, the portion where the tongue presses the nipple (the ridge portion of the tongue) is placed behind the tip of the nipple. It is known that a peristaltic movement that moves sequentially is included (for example, see Patent Document 4). And this patent document 4 describes the nursing exercise simulator which reproduces the mechanism of the nursing exercise. This feeding movement simulator is configured to generate a negative pressure with a vacuum pump and cause the tongue model to make a movement approximate to a peristaltic movement by rotating a drive cam.
Japanese National Patent Publication No. 3-505420 Special Table 2000-511443 JP-T-2003-518412 Japanese Patent No. 3476941

  However, the conventional milking apparatus using only the negative pressure as described above does not reproduce the feeding mechanism of the infant. On the other hand, the feeding simulator is configured to perform a motion that approximates a peristaltic motion by the motion of a single drive cam that directly drives the tongue model, and thus it is difficult to perform a motion that closely matches the peristaltic motion. . Therefore, when this technique is applied to a milking device, the operation of the milking device causes a sense of discomfort to the milked person.

  In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to provide a milking apparatus that enables effective and natural collection of breast milk.

In order to achieve the above object, a milking apparatus according to the invention described in claim 1 includes a pad made of a cylindrical elastic body having an insertion portion for inserting a nipple and a discharge portion for discharging milk that has been milked, and each one end side a plurality of arms which are supported by pivotable frames around a respectively provided at the other end of said plurality of arms, which is contactable arranged axially different portions of the pad in the pad A plurality of pressing portions; and a drive mechanism that swings the arms to cause the pressing portions to press the pads to generate a peristaltic motion on the pads. The driving mechanism is rotatable on the frame. A cam that is supported and has a peripheral surface in contact with the arm; and a single drive source that rotates the cam; and the cam that rotates by the driving force of the drive source swings the arm; The plurality of presses There By pressing the different positions in the axial direction of the pad and different phase and amplitude with the same period, and is configured to cause peristaltic motion to the pad.

  In the milking apparatus according to claim 1, when the drive mechanism is operated with the nipple inserted from the insertion portion into the pad, the plurality of arms swing around the swing center located on one end side of each of the arms. The pressing portions provided on the end side respectively press different portions in the axial direction of the pad. As a result, a peristaltic motion is generated in the pad, and the nipple is squeezed by this peristaltic motion and milk (breast milk) is collected. That is, milking is performed by squeezing the nipple directly with a pad that performs a peristaltic movement, and this milked milk is collected from the pad discharge portion.

  Here, since each of the plurality of pressing portions presses the pad (via the nipple), a peristaltic motion can be generated in the pad by a combination of simple operations of the pressing portions. For this reason, in this milking apparatus, it is possible to reproduce the movement which agrees well with the peristaltic movement of the infant's tongue as a whole. Thereby, it becomes possible for milking person to perform milking which is natural and efficient.

Thus, in the milking apparatus of Claim 1, it becomes possible to extract | collect a mother's milk effectively and naturally.
Further, in the present milking device, when the cam constituting the drive mechanism is rotated, the arm that makes the portion other than the swing center contact the peripheral surface of the cam swings around the swing center. Thereby, a peristaltic motion can be generated in the pad with a simple structure.

  The milking apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is the milking apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the drive mechanism has a portion corresponding to the contact position of the pad on the tongue of the infant in which the respective pressing portions peristally move. The arms are swung so as to press the pad with the period, amplitude, and phase difference of the operation of moving toward and away from the upper jaw of the baby.

  In the milking apparatus according to claim 2, the operation in which each pressing portion presses the pad coincides with the period, amplitude, and phase difference of the operation in which the corresponding portion of the tongue of the peristaltic infant touches and separates from the upper jaw. That is, each pressing part reproduces the motion accompanying the peristaltic motion of each part in the longitudinal direction of the infant's tongue. Thus, in the present milking apparatus, the pad can generate a peristaltic movement that closely matches the peristaltic movement of the infant's tongue, and the milk can be collected more effectively and naturally.

The milking apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is the milking apparatus according to the first or second aspect , wherein the cam has a single cam surface that brings the arms into contact with different positions in the circumferential direction.

In the milking apparatus according to the third aspect, a portion other than the swing center of a plurality of (may be all or a part) arms is in contact with a single cam surface formed on the peripheral surface of one cam. As a result, a single cam can cause a plurality of arms (pressing portions) to perform an operation having a phase difference, thereby reducing the number of parts as a whole and simplifying the structure. Then, by setting the support position of each arm with respect to the frame, and the distance from the center of swing of each arm to the pressing portion and the contact portion with the cam for each arm, a plurality of arms can be formed by a single cam surface. In the driving configuration, the pressing operation (pad pressing position, pressing direction, amplitude, and phase) of each pressing unit can be made to match the peristaltic motion well.

The milking apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the milking apparatus according to the first or second aspect , wherein the drive mechanism has a plurality of the cams that are in contact with the arms independently.

In the milking apparatus according to the fourth aspect , the plurality of arms are in contact with different cams independently, and swing by the rotation of the corresponding cams to generate a peristaltic motion. For this reason, it is easy to design and adjust the pressing operation (pad pressing position, pressing direction, amplitude, and phase) at each position of the pad to be well matched with the peristaltic motion. That is, a milking device that reproduces the peristaltic motion well can be obtained.

A milking apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the milking apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the milk is connected to the pad and collected by peristaltic movement of the pad. And a positioning mechanism capable of holding the frame with respect to the recovery container at a plurality of rotational positions in the circumferential direction of the pad.

In the milking apparatus according to claim 5, the breast milk collected by the peristaltic motion of the pad is collected in the collection container. The positioning mechanism supports the frame with respect to the collection container or supports the collection container with respect to the frame, and the user can use the present milking apparatus while supporting the frame or the collection container. Here, since the positioning mechanism can change the position of the frame with respect to the collection container in the circumferential direction of the pad, that is, the breast, a part of the circumferential direction is pressed by each pressing portion while holding the collection container in a substantially constant posture. The peristaltic pad makes it possible to squeeze the different parts of the nipple in the circumferential direction (each part in the circumferential direction). Thereby, compared with the case where only the same position (for example, lower side) of the circumferential direction in a nipple is rubbed, more effective breast milk extraction is anticipated. In addition, it is possible to eliminate individual differences in the ironing position where breast milk can be collected effectively.

  As described above, the milking apparatus according to the present invention has an excellent effect that it is possible to effectively and naturally collect breast milk.

  A milking device 10 as a milking device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9. First, the schematic overall configuration of the milking device 10 will be described, and then the main part of the present invention will be described in detail. For convenience of explanation, the front side in the direction indicated by the arrow F is appropriately used.

  The milking apparatus 10 is shown by the side step view in FIG. 1, and the milking apparatus 10 is shown by the perspective view which a part cut away in FIG. As shown in these drawings, the milking apparatus 10 includes a frame 12, and the frame 12 includes a pair of left and right side plates 12A facing each other. As shown in FIG. 4, the left and right side plates 12 </ b> A are connected by frame connecting members 12 </ b> B arranged on the near side and the back side (only the back side frame connecting member 12 </ b> B is shown in FIG. 4). On each side plate 12A, a first arm 14, a second arm 16, and a third arm 18 constituting a drive mechanism are rotatably supported. The left and right first arms 14 are formed in the same shape as each other, and the rotating shafts 14A are arranged coaxially.

  Similarly, the left and right second arms 16 and the left and right third arms 18 are formed in the same shape, and the rotation shafts 16A and the rotation shafts 18A are coaxially arranged. The rotating shafts 14A, 16A, and 18A are arranged apart from each other in this order from the front side to the rear side (in different positions) and are parallel to each other. The first arm 14 and the second arm 16 are respectively disposed outside the left and right side plates 12A, and the third arms 18 are disposed between the left and right side plates 12A.

  The left and right first arms 14 are each formed in a substantially acute triangular shape in a side view, and a rotation shaft 14A is provided in the vicinity of one apex. Between the other top parts of the left and right first arms 14, a first ironing bar 20 as a pressing part is bridged. The first ironing bar 20 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and its longitudinal (axis) direction is substantially parallel to the axis of the rotation shaft 14A. Further, between the remaining top portions of the left and right first arms 14, a first shaft 22 formed in a substantially columnar shape is stretched over substantially parallel to the first ironing bar 20. A first roller 24 is loosely fitted in the longitudinal center of the first shaft 22, and the first roller 24 is rotatable with respect to the first shaft 22. In the present embodiment, the shape and orientation of the first arm 14 to be described later so that the rotation shaft 14A is positioned at the top, the first shaft 22 is positioned at the bottom, and the first ironing bar 20 is positioned closest to the front. Etc. are decided.

  The left and right second arms 16 are each formed in a substantially inverted “h” shape in a side view, and a rotation shaft 16A is provided in the vicinity of one end thereof. Between the other end portions of the left and right second arms 16, a second ironing rod 26 as a pressing portion is bridged. The second ironing rod 26 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and its longitudinal (axis) direction is substantially parallel to the axis of the rotation shaft 16A. Further, a second shaft 28 formed in a substantially columnar shape is spanned between the intermediate bent portions of the left and right second arms 16 so as to be substantially parallel to the second ironing rod 26. A second roller 30 is loosely fitted in the longitudinal center of the second shaft 28, and the second roller 30 is rotatable with respect to the second shaft 28. In the present embodiment, the shape and orientation of the second arm 16 to be described later so that the rotation shaft 16A is positioned at the uppermost position, the second shaft 28 is positioned at the lowermost position, and the second ironing bar 26 is positioned closest to the front side. Etc. are decided.

  The left and right third arms 18 are each formed in a substantially obtuse triangular shape in a side view, and a rotation shaft 18A is provided in the vicinity of one apex. A third ironing rod 32 as a pressing portion is spanned between the other top portions of the left and right third arms 18. The third ironing bar 32 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and its longitudinal (axis) direction is substantially parallel to the axis of the rotation shaft 18A. A third shaft 34 formed in a substantially columnar shape is spanned between the remaining tops of the left and right third arms 18 so as to be substantially parallel to the third ironing bar 32. A third roller 36 is loosely fitted in the longitudinal center of the third shaft 34, and the third roller 36 is rotatable with respect to the third shaft 34. In the present embodiment, the shape of the third arm 18 to be described later so that the rotation shaft 18A is located at the innermost position, the third shaft 34 is located at the lowermost position, and the third ironing bar 32 is located at the most front side. The direction is determined.

  Further, the left and right side plates 12A of the frame 12 rotatably support cam shafts 38 that are spanned substantially parallel to the respective rotation shafts 14A, 16A, and 18A. A cam 40 serving as a drive member constituting the drive mechanism is provided at the longitudinal center of the cam shaft 38. The cam 40 is formed in a substantially disc shape whose outer peripheral surface is a cam surface 40 </ b> A, and is eccentrically fixed to the cam shaft 38. The first roller 24, the second roller 30, and the third roller 36 are slidably in contact with different positions on the cam surface 40A of the cam 40 in the circumferential direction.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the milking apparatus 10 includes a motor 41 as a drive source supported by the frame 12. The cam shaft 38 is connected to the motor 41 via a power transmission mechanism such as a gear train (not shown), and is configured to rotate around the axis by the operation of the motor 41. As a result, the cam 40 rotates about the axis of the cam shaft 38 which is an eccentric shaft thereof, and slides or rolls in contact with the rollers 24, 30, 36 on the cam surface 40A, and the arms 14, 16, 18 Are reciprocally rotated (oscillated) around the respective rotation shafts 14A, 16A, 18A. Then, the ironing bars 20, 26, 32 periodically press the pad 42 by swinging of the arms 14, 16, 18. In other words, in the present embodiment, each of the rollers 24, 30, and 36 constitutes an arm (a portion that contacts the cam surface 40 </ b> A) according to the present invention together with each of the arms 14, 16, and 18.

  As indicated by an imaginary line in FIG. 1, the pad 42 is a cylindrical member that is attached to the nipple and covers the nipple from the outer peripheral side, and is formed in a shape imitating the intraoral shape of the baby. In the present embodiment, the pad 42 has a substantially funnel shape in which the inner and outer diameters gradually decrease from the insertion portion side (left side of the drawing in FIG. 1) into which the nipple is inserted toward the discharge portion side (right side of the drawing in FIG. 1). Is formed. The pad 42 is made of a flexible elastic material such as silicone rubber having a thickness of about 3 mm to 5 mm, for example, and is easily bent when pressed from the outside.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the pad 42 is disposed between a pad support plate 44 as a fixed side member attached to the frame 12 and each of the ironing bars 20, 26, 32. By being periodically pressed by 32, it is appropriately deformed to generate a peristaltic motion. This peristaltic motion is transmitted to the nipple supported by the pad support plate 44 (the nipple is squeezed) and milking is performed. The pad support plate 44 only needs to be a member having a relatively high rigidity corresponding to the upper jaw of the baby. For example, a roller may be used instead of the plate. In addition, the milking device 10 can adjust the initial position (contact and separation of the ironing bar 20 and the like with respect to the fixed member) while deforming the pad 42 in order to absorb individual differences in the size of the nipple. Has been.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the discharge portion (squeezed tip) of the pad 42 is communicated with a baby bottle 48 as a collection container for collecting the breast milk collected through the communication tube 46. The communication pipe 46 is elongated along the axial direction (horizontal direction) of the pad 42 and is connected to the end of the horizontal pipe 46A opposite to the pad 42, and is connected to the discharge portion of the pad 42. It is comprised with the standing pipe 46B provided. An air vent 46C communicating with the outside (atmosphere) is provided at the upper end of the vertical pipe 46B. In the present embodiment, the air vent 46C communicates with a vacuum pump as a negative pressure applying means via a tube or the like, and the negative pressure is applied to the nipple while the peristaltic motion is generated by the operation of the vacuum pump or the like. It is supposed to be configured to give. Since this well-known technique can be applied to this negative pressure application, description thereof is omitted.

  The open end, which is the upper end of the baby bottle 48, is connected to the lower end of the standing pipe 46B of the communication pipe 46 in a liquid-tight state. The baby bottle 48 is supported by a baby bottle holder 50 fixed to the frame 12. The baby bottle holder 50 includes a bottom plate 50A on which the baby bottle 48 is placed, a front wall 50B erected from the front end of the bottom plate, and a bottom plate 50A having a substantially U-shaped edge opening to the back. A baby bottle holding plate 50C that extends from the upper end of the front wall 50B so as to be opposed and restricts the upward movement of the baby bottle 48 is configured. The front wall 50B is fixedly supported by the frame 12 (frame connecting member 12B) via a bracket 52.

(Detailed configuration)
Next, the detailed structure of the milking apparatus 10 is demonstrated with the design method.

  The typical side view of the milking apparatus 10 is shown by FIG. 3 (A) and FIG. 3 (B). A triangle S shown in FIG. 3A corresponds to the arms 14, 16, and 18. In FIG. 3A, when the triangle S is rotated by an angle θ around the apex A corresponding to the rotation shaft 14A or the like, the apex B corresponding to the ironing bar 20 or the like is displaced by x and corresponds to the roller 24 or the like. It is shown that the top C to be displaced by y. That is, the displacement x corresponds to the pressing operation of the pad 42 by the ironing bar 20 or the like, and the displacement y corresponds to the displacement of the arm 14 or the like given by the rotation of the cam 40.

  Here, the displacement x of the top portion B is expressed by the following formula (1), where a is the distance between the top portions AB.

x = a × sin θ (1)
On the other hand, the displacement y of the top C is expressed by the following formula (2), where b is the distance between the tops AC.

y = b × sin θ
= B × sin (sin ⁻¹ (x / a)) (2)
Thereby, if the cam curve x which should be the pressing operation of the pad 42 by the ironing bars 20, 26, 32 is given, the cam curve y of the cam surface 40A can be obtained. In this embodiment, the cam 40 is designed using a cam curve x that approximates the peristaltic movement of the tongue during actual feeding of the infant.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram obtained by actually measuring the peristaltic movement of the infant's tongue in each part of the oral cavity as the displacement of the tongue relative to the upper jaw. Specifically, the time variation of the distance between the upper jaw portion J and the tongue T of the baby actually performing the feeding operation, that is, the peristaltic movement, in each portion of the measurement points 1 to 6 of the oral cavity M shown in the legend portion of FIG. A certain waveform is shown over approximately one period. Here, the measurement points 1 to 4 are portions where the tongue T is actually in contact with the nipple and squeezed (pressed) the nipple with the upper jaw J. At the measurement points 5 and 6, The tongue T operates to apply a negative pressure.

  In the milking device 10, since the negative pressure is applied by the vacuum pump or the like, the ironing is performed at positions 42A, 42B, 42C of the pad 42 corresponding to the measurement points 2 to 4 of the tongue T as shown in FIG. The bars 20, 26 and 32 were arranged. In addition, about the measurement point 1, although the ironing operation | movement which comprises peristaltic motion is performed, since the amplitude is small, installation of the ironing bar corresponding to the measurement point 1 was abbreviate | omitted in this Embodiment.

  In this embodiment, the cam curve of the cam 40 is determined based on the measured waveform D3 of the measurement point 3 having the largest amplitude of the tongue T with respect to the upper jaw J among the measurement points 2 to 4. Specifically, first, as shown in FIG. 7, an approximate curve of the measured waveform D3 at the measurement point 3 is obtained. Here, the cam curve x (t) to be the pressing operation of the pad 42 by the second ironing rod 26 is obtained by using the following formula (4) which is a superposition of the sin function and the cos function having the same period. It was.

x (t) = Gsin (ωt + α) + Hcos (ωt + β) + I (3)
In this embodiment, G = −2.7, H = −4.4, I = 10.6, ω = 13.4, α = 0.43, β = −0.62, and the cam curve x ( t) is specified.

  Then, the distance a2 between the axes of the second rotating shaft 16A and the second ironing rod 26 and the distance b2 between the axes of the second rotating shaft 16A and the second roller 30 are respectively determined, and a2 is defined as a and b2. Substituting b into equation (2) together with equation (3) determines the cam curve y of cam 40. Thus, in the present embodiment, the cam 40 is formed as a substantially disk-shaped member having a diameter of about 26.5 mm and substantially constant, and an eccentric amount of about 3.2 mm.

  When the distances a2 and b2 are determined, the shape and arrangement of the second arm 16 (posture with respect to the cam 40), that is, the rotation shaft 16A, the second ironing rod 26, and the second shaft 28 shown in FIG. The shape of the triangle S2 formed by connecting the axes may be determined, but in this embodiment, the cam curve y is obtained so that the ironing bar 26 presses the position 42B of the pad 42 substantially vertically. Later, the shape and arrangement of the triangle S2 are determined. Specifically, the ironing rod 26 is substantially orthogonal to the position 42B of the pad 42 as the cam 40 rotates by repeatedly calculating the position and apex angle of the rotation shaft 16A (∠BAC in FIG. 3A). The position of the rotation shaft 16A with respect to the cam shaft 38 (arrangement of the triangle S2) and the rotation shaft in the triangle S2 so as to perform the pressing operation represented by x (t) along the direction (arrow R2 direction shown in FIG. 3). The apex angle φ (the shape of the triangle S2) of 16A is determined.

  Here, each waveform D2, D3, D4 which comprises the peristaltic motion of the tongue T shown in FIG. 5 has the same period, and a different phase and amplitude. For this reason, using the cam 40 that realizes the cam curve y, the pressing rods 20 and 32 can be pressed by the pad 42 that approximates the measured waveforms D2 and D4 at the measurement points 2 and 4. Accordingly, the first ironing bar 20 and the third ironing bar 32 are substantially orthogonal to the positions 42A and 42C of the pad 42 (see FIG. 3) by the same repetitive calculation as that for determining the pressing operation of the ironing bar 26. The dimensions (shape and arrangement) of each part are determined so as to perform the pressing operation of the pad 42 that approximates the actually measured waveforms D2 and D4 at the measurement points 2 and 4 along the arrows R1 and R3 shown. In this repetitive calculation, the distances a1 and a3 between the rotation shafts 14A and 18A and the ironing rods 20 and 32, and the distances b1 between the rotation centers 14A and 18A and the rollers 24 and 36. , B3 may be variables.

  In the present embodiment, the contact positions of the first roller 24, the second roller 30, and the third roller 36 with the circumferential surface of the cam 40 are made different in the circumferential direction of the cam 40, whereby The phase difference between the pressing operations 26 and 32 is created. Further, a triangle S1 connecting the axes of the rotating shaft 14A, the first ironing bar 20, and the first shaft 22, and a triangle S3 connecting the axes of the rotating shaft 18A, the third ironing bar 32, and the third shaft 34 are shown. The amplitudes of the pressing operations of the ironing bars 20, 26, 32 are made different by making the respective dimensional shapes and arrangements different from the dimensional shapes and arrangements of the triangle S2.

  As described above, each of the ironing bars 20, 26, 32 is configured to perform the pressing operation of the pad 42 shown as pressing waveforms E1, E2, E3 in FIG. 8 by the rotation of the cam 40 around the cam shaft 38. These pressing waveforms E1, E2, and E3 are in good agreement with each other as shown in FIG. 9 when superimposed on the waveforms D2, D3, and D4 of the peristaltic motion at the measurement points 2 to 4 shown in FIG. Therefore, in the milking apparatus 10, the pad which approximates the waveform (period, amplitude, phase difference) which comprises the peristaltic motion of the site | part with which the three ironing rods 20, 26, and 32 correspond by rotating the cam shaft 38, respectively. The pad 42 is caused to perform a peristaltic motion that closely matches the peristaltic motion of the infant's tongue as a whole.

  As described above, the direction in which each of the squeezing bars 20, 26, 32 presses the pad 42 is the directions of arrows R1, R2, R3 that are substantially orthogonal to the positions 42A, 42B, 42C of the pad 42, and the upper jaw This is different from the vertical direction in which J and the tongue T are connected and the measurement points 2 to 4 are shown. This is because the pad 42 is effectively deformed and a peristaltic motion constituted by a combination of a plurality of pressing operations is well transmitted to the nipple. The pressing direction of 42 can be appropriately changed according to the shape and material of the pad 42. That is, it goes without saying that the direction of the pressing operation by the squeezing bars 20, 26, 32 may be made to coincide with the actual displacement direction of the tongue T with respect to the upper jaw J. In addition, there are slight deviations between the press waveforms E1 and E3 and the peristaltic movement waveforms D2 and D4, but these deviations are caused by various restrictions in trial production. Since it is not an error, it can be corrected appropriately.

  Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.

  In the milking device 10 having the above-described configuration, when milking is performed, the pad 42 attached to the nipple is inserted between the stationary member and each of the ironing bars 20, 26, and 32. In this state, when the motor 41 is operated to rotationally drive the cam shaft 38, the cam 40 rotates to operate the rollers 24, 30, and 36 along the cam curve y. As a result, the arms 14, 16, and 18 are rotated about the rotation shafts 14A, 16A, and 18A, and the ironing bars 20, 26, and 32 periodically press the positions 42A, 42B, and 42C of the pad 42, respectively. To do. Periodic pressing operations of the respective parts different in the axial direction of the pad 42 cause a peristaltic motion in the pad 42, and the nipple is directly squeezed by the pad 42 performing the peristaltic motion to collect breast milk. That is, milking is performed. At this time, negative pressure is applied from the front end (air venting portion 46C) of the pad 42 by a vacuum pump, milking is promoted and the collected milk is efficiently collected in the baby bottle 48. .

  Here, in the present milking apparatus 10, since the plurality of squeezing bars 20, 26, and 32 squeeze the nipple (pad 42), a complex squeezing motion is given to the nipple by a combination of simple operations of each squeezing bar 20 and the like. Is realized. In particular, since the three squeezing rods 20, 26, 32 are provided at three different positions in the longitudinal direction of the pad 42 with different phases and amplitudes, a squeezing motion that approximates the peristaltic motion of the infant's tongue is performed by a combination of simple operations. be able to.

  Specifically, waveforms associated with peristaltic movement at a plurality of positions (measurement points 2, 3, 4) of the tongue T that are different in the depth direction of the baby's mouth M (protruding direction of the nipple, the longitudinal direction of the pad 42) are extracted. Since the squeezing motions having different phases and amplitudes based on these waveforms are made to be performed by the squeezing rods 20, 26, 32, the milking can be efficiently performed by the motion that closely matches the peristaltic motion of the infant's tongue. Can do. Thereby, it becomes possible to perform natural and efficient milking without giving a sense of incongruity to a milking person.

In the first embodiment, the combination of the reciprocating rotation of the ironing rods 20, 26, and 32 by the cam 40, which is a simple eccentric disk cam, reproduces the peristaltic motion well and realizes efficient and natural milking. We were able to. In addition, the cam 40 having a single cam surface 40A is configured to drive the ironing bars 20, 26, 32 via the rollers 24, 30, 36, the arms 14, 16, 18, etc., so the structure is simple. And reliable. That is, a single cam 40 der because each ironing rods 20, 26, 32 always operates in synchronism, never or cause a phase shift (shift of the set phase difference).

  Thus, the milking apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment can effectively and naturally collect breast milk.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a milking apparatus 90 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that components and portions that are basically the same as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and description thereof is omitted.

  The principal part of the milking apparatus 90 is shown by the perspective view by FIG. As shown in this figure, the milking apparatus 90 is different from the first embodiment in that it includes three cams 92, 94, 96 corresponding to the three arms 14, 16, 18, respectively. This will be specifically described below.

  A connecting plate 98 is bridged between the left and right first arms 14, and connecting plates 100 and 102 are bridged between the left and right second arms 16 and between the left and right third arms 18, respectively. The connecting plates 98, 100, 102 for writing support the rollers 110, 112, 114 rotatably through brackets 104, 106, 108, respectively. Each roller is disposed between the left and right side plates 12A of the frame 12 at different positions in the left-right direction. Thereby, each roller 110,112,114 does not interfere with the cam which contacts another roller.

  The second arm 16, together with the connecting plate 100 and the bracket 106, forms a triangle having the pivot shaft 16A, the second ironing bar 26, and the roller 112 as apexes. For the second ironing rod 26, the cam curve x (t) corresponding to the measurement point 3 of the pad 42 is specified as in the first embodiment, and the second arm 16 is driven in contact with the roller 112. A cam curve y of the cam 94 is determined. Therefore, the cam 94 is an eccentric disk.

  The first arm 14 together with the connecting plate 98 and the bracket 104 forms a triangle having the pivot shaft 14A, the first ironing bar 20, and the roller 110 as a vertex, and the third arm 18 includes the connecting plate 102, Together with the bracket 108, a triangle having the pivot shaft 18A, the third ironing bar 32, and the roller 114 as apexes is formed. In this embodiment, the cams 92 and 96 for contacting the rollers 110 and 114 to cause the first ironing rods 20 and 32 to press the pad 42 have the same cam curve y as the cam 94 (cam shaft 38). Eccentric disc is used.

  In this embodiment, the cam 92, 94, 96 is attached to the cam shaft 38, and the cams 92, 96 and the rollers 110, 116 are surrounded by the circumference (cam curve). The respective contact positions in the y) direction are set so that the phases of the press waveforms E1 and E3 and the peristaltic motion waveforms D2 and D4 shown in FIG.

  In the milking device 90 described above, the pressing waveforms E1, E2, and E3 by the ironing bars 20, 26, and 32 are superimposed on the peristaltic movement waveforms D2, D3, and D4 at the measurement points 2 to 4 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 11, both the amplitude and the phase agree very well. Therefore, in the milking apparatus 90, the pad which approximates the waveform (a period, an amplitude, a phase difference) which comprises the peristaltic motion of the site | part with which the three squeezing bars 20, 26, and 32 correspond by rotating the cam shaft 38, respectively. 42 can be made to produce a peristaltic movement on the pad 42 that closely matches the peristaltic movement of the infant's tongue as a whole.

  Thus, in the milking apparatus 90 according to the second embodiment, milk can be collected effectively and naturally.

  In addition, since the milking device 90 includes the cams 92, 94, and 96 that contact the arms 14, 16, and 18 independently, the pressing motion of the ironing bars 20, 26, and 32 that press different parts of the pad 42 is performed. It can be easily approximated to a peristaltic motion. That is, in the configuration using the single cam 40, there is a restriction on the arrangement of the rollers 24, 30, 36 with respect to the cam 40, the pad 42, and the cams 92, 94, 96 corresponding to the arms 14, 16, 18 are provided. By providing each, the restriction | limiting of arrangement | positioning of each roller 24, 30, 36 mentioned above is lose | eliminated. For this reason, the design and setting which easily approximates the pressing motion of each ironing rod 20, 26, 32 to the peristaltic motion is facilitated. In addition, since the cam curve y of each cam 92, 94, 96 is the same as the cam shaft 38, the amount of eccentricity with respect to the cam shaft 38 is the same. is there.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a milking device 60 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that components and portions that are basically the same as those in the first or second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first or second embodiment, and description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a state in which the milking device 60 is partially disassembled. As shown in this figure, the milking device 60 is different from the milking devices 10 and 90 according to the first or second embodiment in that the frame 12 and the baby bottle holder 50 are configured to be separable. That is, the milking device 60 is configured such that a milking unit (squeezing unit) 62 supported by the frame 12 and a holder unit 64 on the baby bottle holder 50 side are detachable. And the mechanism which connects the milking unit 62 and the holder unit 64 so that isolation | separation is possible so that the milking unit 62 can take the some rotation position around the axis line of the pad 42 (illustration omitted in FIG. 12) with respect to the holder unit 64. The positioning mechanism 66 is configured. This will be specifically described below.

  The positioning mechanism 66 includes a positioned plate 68 that fixedly bridges the left and right side plates 12 </ b> A at the upper back side of the frame 12 in the milking unit 62. A circular hole 68 </ b> A having an inner diameter through which the axially intermediate portion of the pad 42 can be inserted is formed in the positioned plate 68 substantially coaxially with the pad 42. A through hole 68 </ b> B is formed above the circular hole 68 </ b> A in the positioned plate 68. Further, the positioning mechanism 66 includes a presser plate 78. The presser plate 78 is formed with a through hole 78B that is located in the axial center and is disposed corresponding to the circular hole 78A and the through hole 68B having the same diameter as the circular hole 68A.

  Further, a spacer plate 70 is disposed between the above-described positioned plate 68 and the presser plate 78. The spacer plate 70 is formed in an annular shape having a circular hole 70A having substantially the same diameter as the circular hole 68A. The spacer plate 70 is fixedly held between the positioned plate 68 and the presser plate 78 by joining them with screws (not shown).

  The positioning mechanism 66 includes a positioning plate 72 fixed to the holder unit 64. The positioning plate 72 has a lower end connected to an upper end of a bracket 74 whose lower end side is fixed to the front wall 50B, and a lower end that is different from the upper end of a pair of support arms 76 fixed to the baby bottle holding plate 50C. By connecting each location, it is fixed to the holder unit 64 (baby bottle holder 50) as the upper level. The positioning plate 72 is formed with a circular hole 72 </ b> A having substantially the same diameter as the outer diameter of the spacer plate 70. Around the circular hole 72A, a plurality (eight in this embodiment) of positioning holes 72B are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. Further, the positioning distances 72B of the plurality of positioning holes 72B have the same distance between the axial centers of the circular holes 72A and the distance between the axial centers of the circular holes 68A and the through holes 68B.

  The positioning plate 72 is loosely fitted to the spacer plate 70 so that the spacer plate 70 is rotatably supported. The positioning plate 72 is sandwiched between the positioned plate 68 and the pressing plate 78. As a result, the milking unit 62 is supported by the holder unit 64 so as to be rotatable around the axis of the pad 42 and is prevented from being displaced (dropped) in directions other than the rotational direction. In other words, the positioning plate 72 is rotatably held in a groove having the facing surface of the positioned plate 68 and the pressing plate 78 as a groove wall and the outer peripheral surface of the spacer plate 70 as a groove bottom.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the positioning mechanism 66 includes a holding pin 80. The holding pin 80 includes a pin portion 80A that can be inserted into the positioning hole 72B of the positioning plate 72 through the through hole 68B, and a ring portion 80B that can be operated with a fingertip provided on the front side of the pin portion 80A. Has been.

  In the positioning mechanism 66 described above, the milking unit 62 is positioned with respect to the holder unit 64 at a desired rotational position where the through hole 68B and the arbitrary positioning hole 72B coincide with each other, and the holding pin 80 penetrating the through hole 68B. The milking unit 62 can be positioned and held in the holder unit 64 by fitting the pin portion 80A of the pin into the positioning hole 72B coinciding with the through hole 68B. In the present embodiment in which eight positioning holes 72B are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, the milking unit 62 is 8 with respect to the holder unit 64 (the baby bottle 48) as shown in FIGS. 14 (A) to 14 (H). It is configured to take one position. In FIG. 14, the holding pins 80 and the pads 42 are not shown.

  Next, the operation of the third embodiment will be described.

  In the milking device 60 having the above-described configuration, when milking is performed, the milking unit 62 is set at a desired position with respect to the holder unit 64, and the pad 42 attached to the nipple is fixed to the fixed side member and each ironing bar 20, 26, 32. Get in between. When the motor 41 is operated from this state, as in the first embodiment, the nipple is directly squeezed by the peristaltic motion generated on the pad 42 and the milk is collected. The collected breast milk is collected in the baby bottle 48 supported by the baby bottle holder 50 of the holder unit 64. At this time, the user (milked person) of the milking apparatus supports the holder unit 64.

  Here, in the milking apparatus 60, since the positioning mechanism 66 which can change the position of the milking unit 62 with respect to the holder unit 64, ie, the baby bottle 48, in the circumferential direction of the pad 42 (nipple), the baby bottle 48 is opened upward. Milking can be performed by generating a position peristaltic motion in the circumferential direction of the pad 42 while maintaining a substantially constant posture. That is, in the milking device 60, it is possible to squeeze the portions of the nipple that are different in the circumferential direction (the respective portions in the circumferential direction) by the pad 42 that performs the peristaltic motion. Thereby, compared with the case where only the same position (for example, lower side) of the circumferential direction in a nipple is rubbed, more effective breast milk extraction is anticipated. In addition, it is possible to eliminate individual differences in the ironing position where breast milk can be collected effectively. In other words, the user can use the milking device 60 to squeeze each part of the nipple in the circumferential direction evenly (substantially uniformly), or to squeeze the circumferential position where the breast milk is easily collected in the nipple. Breast milk can be collected.

  And in this embodiment, since the position adjustment of 8 steps was made possible, the structure which squeezed the nipple substantially over the perimeter (each part of the circumferential direction) was implement | achieved. Specifically, the baby bottle 48 can be used by shifting the position within a range in which the breast milk can be collected by gravity, and accordingly, the support angle by the user of the holder unit 64 is appropriately adjusted, as shown in FIG. It is possible to squeeze positions between 8 stages.

  In the third embodiment, an example is shown in which the milking unit 62 that is rotatably supported with respect to the holder unit 64 is coupled by the holding pin 80 to perform stepped positioning. For example, the rotational position of the milking unit 62 relative to the holder unit 64 can be adjusted steplessly by engaging a worm wheel integrated with the positioned plate 68 with a worm supported by the holder unit 64. Also good.

  In each of the above embodiments, the milking apparatuses 10, 60, 90 are configured to apply a negative pressure by a vacuum pump or the like while causing the pad 42 to be peristally moved by the ironing bar 20 or the like. There is no limitation, and milking may be performed only by the ironing operation based on the peristaltic motion of the pad 42.

  Moreover, in each said embodiment, although it was set as the preferable structure provided with the 1st thru | or 3rd three ironing rods 20, 26, 32, this invention is not limited to this, For example, the structure provided with two ironing rods It is good also as a structure provided with four or more ironing rods. Moreover, each ironing bar is not limited to the structure formed in a column shape, For example, you may form in flat form.

  Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to a preferred configuration in which a plurality of squeezing bars 20, 26, 32 are driven by a common cam 40 or individual cams 92, 94, 96, for example, each squeezing bar 20, 26. , 32 may be driven by a common cam, and each of the ironing bars 20, 26, 32 may be formed by another driving mechanism. Further, the cam 40 and the rollers 24, 30, 36 (shafts 22, 28, 34) constitute a positive cam, and the milking device 10 can be reliably used regardless of the posture (without using gravity or spring force). You may make it operate | move.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the rotation shaft 14A and the like, the ironing bar 20 and the like, and the roller 24 and the like are arranged so as to form a triangle S is shown, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Instead, for example, a part or all of the arms 14, 16, 18 may be formed so that the rotation shaft 14A, the ironing bar 20, etc., and the roller 24 are arranged in a straight line.

  Furthermore, in each said embodiment, it was set as the structure by which the pad 42 was formed in the substantially funnel shape, However, This invention is not limited to this, For example, the nipple is inserted and the pad 42 presses each ironing rod 20 grade | etc., The portion to be formed may be formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. In this case, it becomes easy to match the pressing direction of the pad 42 by each ironing bar 20 or the like with the contact / separation direction with respect to the upper jaw portion J of the tongue T.

It is a sectional side view which shows this substantially whole structure of the milking mechanism which comprises the milking apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the milking mechanism which comprises the milking apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. (A) is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the design method of a cam, (B) is a schematic diagram of the whole milking apparatus. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic overall configuration of a milking apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a diagram which shows the peristaltic movement curve of the infant's tongue in suckling. It is a schematic diagram which shows the relationship between the peristaltic movement measurement site | part in the oral cavity of an infant, and the ironing site | part by each ironing stick in a pad. It is a diagram which shows the peristaltic movement curve of the specific site | part of the infant's tongue, and the cam curve approximated to this peristaltic movement, respectively. It is a diagram which shows operation | movement of each ironing bar of the milking apparatus for vehicles which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a diagram which shows the operation | movement of each ironing stick of the milking apparatus for vehicles which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, and the peristaltic movement curve of the infant's tongue in piles. It is a sectional side view which shows this substantially whole structure of the milking mechanism which comprises the milking apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a diagram which shows the operation | movement of each ironing stick of the milking apparatus for vehicles which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, and the peristaltic movement curve of the infant's tongue in piles. It is a perspective view which isolate | separates and shows the milking apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention into a milking unit and a holder unit. It is a perspective view which expands and shows the connection state of the milking unit which comprises the milking apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention, and a holder unit. Each of (A)-(H) is a front view which shows the positioning state in the position where the milking unit differs with respect to the holder unit which comprises the milking apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 Milking equipment 12 Frame 14 First arm (arm)
16 Second arm (arm)
18 Third arm (arm)
20 First ironing bar (pressing part)
26 Second ironing bar (pressing part)
32 3rd iron rod (pressing part)
40 cam (drive mechanism)
42 Pad 48 Baby bottle (collection container)
60 Milking device 62 Milking unit (frame)
64 Holder unit (collection container)
66 Positioning mechanism 90 Milking device 92/94/96 Cam (drive mechanism)

Claims (5)

A pad made of a cylindrical elastic body having an insertion portion for inserting a nipple and a discharge portion for discharging milked milk;
A plurality of arms each supported by a frame so as to be swingable around one end side;
A plurality of pressing portions which are respectively provided on the other end sides of the plurality of arms and are arranged so as to be able to contact different portions of the pad in the axial direction of the pads;
A drive mechanism that swings the arm and presses the pad against each pressing portion to cause a peristaltic motion on the pad;
Equipped with a,
The drive mechanism is
A cam that is rotatably supported by the frame and makes a peripheral surface contact the arm;
A single drive source for rotating the cam;
When the cam that is rotated by the driving force of the driving source swings the arm, the plurality of pressing portions press different positions in the axial direction of the pad with the same period and with different phases and amplitudes. Thus, a milking device configured to cause a peristaltic motion in the pad .   The driving mechanism is configured such that each of the pressing portions has a period, amplitude, and phase difference of an operation in which a portion corresponding to a contact position with the pad on the tongue of the infant that performs peristalsis moves with respect to the upper jaw of the infant. The milking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each arm is swung so as to press the button. The milking apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the cam has a single cam surface that brings the arms into contact with different positions in the circumferential direction . The said milking apparatus of Claim 1 or Claim 2 which has the said some cam which the said drive mechanism contacts each said arm each independently . A collection container communicated with the pad for collecting breast milk collected by peristaltic movement of the pad;
A positioning mechanism capable of holding the frame with respect to the collection container at a plurality of rotational positions in the circumferential direction of the pad;
The milking device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising:

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