KR20040051728A - A breast milker - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A breast milker is provided to carry out a smooth breast milking by eliminating a back flushing phenomenon and the generation of breast milk bubbles. CONSTITUTION: The breast milker includes: a vacuum pumping unit sucking air in a funnel to be placed on the breast of a user and letting the same into a discharge tube via an inlet pipe coupled to the funnel; a condensing unit receiving and condensing the air sucked by the vacuum pumping unit; a vacuum release unit(300) sending the air discharged from the condensing unit to the discharge tube and letting breast milk collected in the discharge tube into a milk bottle; and a control unit controlling the operations of the vacuum pumping unit, condensing unit and vacuum release unit(300).

Description

Breast milking machine {A BREAST MILKER}

The present invention relates to a breast milking machine, and more particularly, to a breast milking machine which makes milking of breast milk convenient.

In general, if the mother does not fully squeeze the milk remaining in the breast after lactation, breast inflammation and breast inflammation occurs. In consideration of such a case, a breast milking machine for squeezing milk remaining in a mother's breast is commercialized and sold.

The breastmilking machine not only saves time than squeezing milk by hand, but also completely squeezes the remaining milk after lactation, thus preventing congestion and preventing damage to the mammary gland caused by excessive breastfeeding by hand. Prevent it.

Such breast milking machines include manual breast milking machines and automatic breast milking machines.

The manual breast milking machine is a device for squeezing breast milk while holding the body of the breast milking machine with one hand, holding the suction cap close to the chest, and holding and pressing the rubber body. Such manual breast milking machines are inconvenient to use, and increasing pressure causes problems such as damage to the nipples and mammary glands rather than harming the body.

In addition, the automatic breast milking machine is a mechanism that automatically sucks breast milk into the bottle by using a vacuum pump. Since the breast milk is always sucked while maintaining a constant vacuum degree, not only the vacuum degree can be adjusted, but also according to the mother's constitution and breast milk amount. Even if you want to adjust the degree of vacuum can not be adjusted because the problem of nipples and mammary glands are damaged.

In addition, since the automatic breast milking machine employs a piston type vacuum pump, the viscosity of the grease decreases due to frictional heat between the cylinder and the piston, and the problem of the degree of vacuum decreases with use for a long time. In order to operate the automatic milking machine smoothly, the user should apply industrial grease to the piston, but it is not only difficult to disassemble the vacuum pump and apply grease, but also smell of burning grease due to frictional heat of the cylinder and piston. There is. In addition, in the case of a mother having a large amount of breast milk, it is impossible to control the vacuum time, thereby reducing the milking efficiency, and there is a problem in that damage to the machine is caused by the occurrence of over suction during vacuum.

Accordingly, in 2002, the present applicant described a breast milking machine that can adjust the intake time, stop time, and repetition cycle of breast milk so that the user's teat and mammary gland can be conveniently used without damage. The utility model application was filed on January 21 and registered on April 10, 2002 (Utility Model Registration Number; 20-0273067).

The breast milking machine described in Utility Model Registration No. 20-0273067 is a vacuum pump which is installed inside one side of the breast milking machine main body and has a suction port and an outlet port at a pumping part, and sucks and collects breast milk by the suction force of the vacuum pump. And an electronic circuit unit including a feeding bottle, a solenoid valve for releasing the vacuum when the vacuum pump is stopped, and a microcomputer for controlling driving of the vacuum pump and the solenoid valve, and applying a vacuum suction input to the funnel of the feeding bottle The suction port of the vacuum pump and the suction pipe of the funnel are connected to the suction hose to suck the air, and the communication tube of the solenoid valve is connected to the suction hose with the T-type connection pipe and the release hose to release the vacuum pressure formed in the suction hose. It is connected and configured.

According to the breast milking machine described in the Utility Model Registration No. 20-0273067, the driving of the vacuum pump and the solenoid valve is controlled to milk the breast milk so that the user's nipple and the mammary gland are not damaged. However, in the process of making the vacuum state by the vacuum pump and the vacuum release state by the solenoid valve, a backflow phenomenon may occur and the air inside the bottle may flow back. In addition, bubbles may be generated in the mother milk collected inside the discharge tube provided in the bottle by the solenoid valve driving repeated several times during breast milking. That is, when the mother's milk is collected to some extent inside the discharge tube, the valve membrane of the discharge tube is opened downward due to the weight of the mother's milk, and the mother's milk must flow into the baby bottle. The valve membrane of the tube does not open properly and the milk does not flow into the bottle.

The present invention has been proposed to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a breast milking machine for smooth milking by removing the backflow phenomenon and the generation of breast milk bubbles.

1 is a view showing the configuration of a breast milking machine according to an embodiment of the present invention,

2 is a cross-sectional view showing a closed state of the solenoid valve shown in FIG.

3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an open state of the solenoid valve illustrated in FIG. 1.

※ Explanation of code for main part of drawing

10 funnel 12 inlet pipe

14 discharge tube 16 feeding bottle

18: stopper 20: suction tube

22, 26: suction hose 24: T-type connector

28, 42: antibacterial filter 30: drive motor

32: diaphragm 33: suction port

34: first pass through membrane 36: second pass through membrane

38: third passage membrane 40: connecting hose

44: release hose 46: valve membrane

48: fixing protrusion 50: discharge hole

52: rib 54: fixing hole

200: condensing means (condensing cylinder)

300: vacuum release means (solenoid valve)

310: coil 320: movable port

330: suction port 340: communication hole

350: communication tube 360: stopper

370: spring

In order to achieve the above object, a breast milking machine according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is a vacuum which sucks air in a funnel placed on a user's chest so that breast milk is introduced into a discharge tube through an inlet pipe coupled with the funnel. Pumping means; Condensing means for receiving and condensing the air sucked by the vacuum pumping means; Vacuum release means for sending the air discharged from the condensation means to the discharge tube to introduce the mother milk collected in the discharge tube into the baby bottle; And control means for controlling the operation of the vacuum pumping means, the condensing means and the vacuum releasing means.

Preferably, the vacuum pumping means and the inlet pipe are connected to each other via a connection hose via a connection tube of a predetermined shape, the antibacterial filter is built in the connection hose connected to the vacuum pumping means, the vacuum pumping means and A passivation membrane is formed between the connecting hoses to allow the sucked air to pass therethrough.

The communication tube of the vacuum release means is connected to the connection tube of the predetermined shape through a connection hose having a predetermined length having an antibacterial filter therein, and a passing membrane for passing the sucked air between the vacuum pumping means and the condensation means. Is formed.

In addition, the condensing means and the vacuum releasing means are connected to each other through a connection hose of a predetermined length, a passing membrane is formed on the discharge port side of the condensing means for passing the discharged air.

Meanwhile, the control means operates the vacuum pumping operation of the vacuum pumping means several times, delivers the sucked air to the condensing means every time, and condenses the vacuumed means. The milk is sent to the discharge tube through the mother milk collected in the discharge tube is controlled to flow into the bottle.

Hereinafter, a breast milking machine according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a view showing the configuration of a breast milking machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a closed state of the solenoid valve shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is an open state of the solenoid valve shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows.

The breast milking machine according to the embodiment of the present invention sucks air in the funnel 10 placed on the user's chest, and the milk is introduced into the discharge pipe 14 through the inlet pipe 12 coupled with the funnel 10. Vacuum pumping means for causing; Condensing means (200) for receiving and condensing the air sucked by the vacuum pumping means; A vacuum release means (300) for sending the air discharged from the condensation means (200) to the discharge tube (14) to introduce the mother milk collected in the discharge tube (14) into the baby bottle (16); And control means for controlling operations of the vacuum pumping means, the condensation means 200 and the vacuum releasing means 300.

Here, the vacuum pumping means is a reciprocating motion of the diaphragm 32 coupled to the inside of the cylinder of the pumping unit (not shown) by transmitting the rotational force of the drive motor 30 to the transmission unit (not shown) of the crank mechanism In other words, a conventional vacuum pump that continuously inhales the air in the funnel 10 by the rotational force of the drive motor 30 is used.

Then, the condensation means 200 is composed of a condensation cylinder, the vacuum release means 300 is composed of a solenoid valve.

The suction port 33 of the vacuum pumping means is coupled to one side of the suction hose 26 of a predetermined length in which the antibacterial filter 28 is incorporated, and the other side of the suction hose 26 is a hollow T-shaped connecting pipe. It is coupled to one end of (24). The other end of the T-shaped connecting tube 24 is connected to the suction pipe 20 connected to the inlet pipe 12 of the funnel 10 through a suction hose 22 of a predetermined length. Then, the other end of the T-shaped connection tube 24 is connected to the communication tube 350 of the solenoid valve 300 through the release hose 44 in which the antibacterial filter 42 is built. In addition, the discharge port 210 of the condensation means 200 is connected to the suction port 330 of the vacuum release means 300 through a connection hose 40 of a predetermined length.

In addition, a first passage film 34 for transmitting the sucked air to the vacuum pumping means is formed between the vacuum pumping means and the suction hose 26, and the suction between the vacuum pumping means and the condensing means 200. A second passage film 36 is formed to send the compressed air to the condensation means 200, and a third passage for sending the discharged air to the vacuum release means 300 is provided at the discharge port 210 side of the condensation means 200. A film 38 is formed. The first through third through-membrane (34, 36, 38) is made of a rubber-like material, each of the through-membrane (34, 36, 38) is formed with a plurality of through grooves, each of the through grooves It is not completely drilled but is formed by a cover that is opened and then closed again. That is, the passage 34 is opened and closed when the air of the funnel 10 is sucked into the vacuum pumping means through the suction hoses 22 and 26 by the vacuum pumping operation of the vacuum pumping means. The membrane 36 opens and closes when air is transferred from the vacuum pumping means to the condensation means 200, and the passing membrane 38 is passed from the condensing means 200 to the vacuum release means 300. It opens and closes when air is delivered.

In addition, the bottle 16 has a stopper 18 coupled to the spout portion, the stopper 18 is integrally formed with an inlet tube 12 having a portion perpendicular to the inclined portion, the inlet tube 12 At the top of the funnel 10 is formed integrally. In addition, the suction pipe 20 is formed to be inclined above the bent portion of the inflow pipe 12.

A discharge tube 14 for discharging the collected mother milk into the bottle 16 is coupled to a lower end of the inlet tube 12 of the stopper 18, and the air inside the bottle 16 is connected to the discharge tube 14. A valve membrane 46 is coupled to prevent backflow into the inlet 12. A discharge hole 50 and a rib 52 are formed in the discharge tube 14, and a fixing protrusion 48 is formed in the center portion of the valve film 46 so as to form a fixed hole formed in the center portion of the rib 52. 54) to be fixed.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the solenoid valve, which is the vacuum release means 300, surrounds the movable port 320 and the movable port 320 vertically moving up and down inside the main body to generate magnetic force. The coil 310 and the spring 370 for double acting the movable port 320 are provided. In addition, a communication tube 350 is formed at the center of the upper surface of the main body of the vacuum release means 300, and a communication hole 340 connected to the suction port 330 is formed around the communication tube 350. In addition, a soft stopper 360 such as rubber is coupled to the upper end of the movable port 320 to block the communication hole 340 and the communication tube 350. Of course, the stopper 360 opens the communication hole 340 and the communication tube 350 when the solenoid valve, which is the vacuum release means 300, opens, and thus communicates the air sucked into the suction port 330. Through the 340 and the communication tube 350 to exit.

On the other hand, although not shown, the front side of the main body of the milking machine is a power on / off switch, a pump on / off switch, a light emitting diode that is turned on when the power is turned on, a light emitting diode that is turned on while the vacuum pumping means, vacuum pumping means A light emitting diode that is turned on while the motor is stopped, a rotary knob for adjusting the vacuum suction pressure by adjusting the rotational speed of the driving motor 30, and a rotary knob for adjusting the driving time of the driving motor 30 are provided.

And, the control means (not shown) is composed of a microcomputer for performing a predetermined control operation, the control means operates the vacuum pumping operation of the vacuum pumping means several times, each time the air sucked in the condensing means 200 After the condensation is delivered to the c), and at a predetermined cycle, the condensed air is sent to the discharge tube 14 through the vacuum releasing means 300 to collect breast milk in the discharge tube 14. Control to flow into.

In FIG. 1, the vacuum pumping means and the condensation means 200 are illustrated as being installed in one case, but may be separately installed as necessary. In addition, the vacuum releasing means 300 may be illustrated as being installed in one case together with the vacuum pumping means and the condensing means 200.

Next, the operation of the breast milking machine according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

After coupling the bottle 16 with the stopper 18 as shown in FIG. 1, the suction tube 20 of the funnel 10 integrally coupled to the stopper 18 is provided with suction hoses 22 and 26 and a T-type connection tube. And through the inlet port 24 of the vacuum pumping means. Then, the T-shaped connecting tube 24 and the communication tube 350 of the vacuum release means 300 are connected through the release hose 44, and the suction port (1) of the vacuum release means 300 through the connection hose 40. 330 and the outlet 210 of the condensation means 200 are connected.

Then, the user places the funnel 10 on the chest (breast) and turns on the power on / off switch (not shown) installed on one front part of the main body of the breast milking machine, and turns on the pump on / off switch (not shown). In this case, the control means operates the vacuum pumping means to perform the vacuum pumping operation. Accordingly, the pumping unit sucks air by the driving force of the driving motor 30.

When the suction operation of the air is performed in this way, the air in the funnel 10 passes through the first passage membrane 34 through the suction port 33 of the vacuum pumping means through the suction hoses 22 and 26 and then vacuum pumps the vacuum. The sucked air is sucked into the means, and the sucked air is passed through the second passing membrane 36 into the condensation means 200 and condensed. At this time, as the air in the funnel 10 is sucked into the vacuum pumping means, breast milk is sucked into the funnel 10, and the sucked milk is vertically inclined with the inclined portion of the inlet tube 12 ( 16) is collected inside the discharge tube 14 provided inside, the valve membrane 46 of the discharge tube 14 is in close contact with the discharge hole 50 by the vacuum pressure acting inside the discharge tube 14 Therefore, the air inside the bottle does not flow back into the discharge hole 50.

As the suction operation of the air continues, the amount of air condensed in the condensation means 200 increases, and the amount of breast milk collected in the discharge tube 14 provided inside the feeding bottle 16 increases. The control means stops the vacuum pumping operation of the vacuum pumping means if the condensation amount reaches a predetermined value or if the vacuum pumping operation of the vacuum pumping means is repeated several times, and the condensing means 200 is turned on once. The condensed air is transferred to the inlet 300 of the vacuum release means 300 through the connection hose 40 through the third passage membrane 38 and the discharge port 210, and the solenoid which is the vacuum release means 300. Open the valve. When the solenoid valve is opened, the movable port 320 is vertically lowered.

Accordingly, the plug 360 is blocking the communication hole 340 and the communication tube 350 as shown in FIG. 2 at the initial stage when the condensed air does not flow into the inlet 300, and the inlet ( When the movable port 320 is vertically lowered as the condensed air is introduced to the side 300, a part of the stopper 360 coupled to the upper end of the movable port 320 is lowered. As a result, the communication hole 340 and the communication tube 350 are opened, so that the condensed air introduced into the suction port 330 passes through the communication hole 340 and the communication tube 350 to release the release hose 44 and the T. It is sent to the discharge pipe 14 below the inlet pipe 12 through the type connecting pipe 24 and the suction pipe 20. As a result, the breast milk inside the discharge pipe 14 is lowered by the pressure of the condensed air. The valve membrane 46 of the discharge pipe 14 is opened, and the discharge pipe 14 and the inlet pipe 12 are opened. The mother milk collected at the discharge is discharged into the discharge hole 50 and falls into the feeding bottle 16.

In this way, when some amount of breast milk collected in the discharge tube 14 and the inlet tube 12 falls into the feeding bottle 16, the control means terminates the opening operation of the vacuum release means 300. The vacuum release means When the opening operation of the 300 is finished, the movable opening 370 vertically rises to the original position by the restoring force of the spring 370, and the stopper 360 communicates with the vertical rising of the movable opening 370. The ball 340 and the communication tube 350 is blocked.

Then, the control means again operates the vacuum pumping means to perform the vacuum pumping operation so that the above-described operation is repeated.

When the mother's milk is collected to some extent in the bottle 16 by the repetitive operation, the user turns off the power on / off switch (not shown) and the pump on / off switch (not shown). Turning off the operation of the vacuum pumping means prevents further milking operation.

On the other hand, the user rotates the rotary knob (not shown) provided on the front portion of the breast milking machine body to the left or right to adjust the revolutions per minute (rpm) of the drive motor 30, thereby adjusting the revolutions per minute By the vacuum suction pressure is regulated, the breast milk suction force is also controlled. In addition, the user may adjust the time interval at which the driving motor 30 is driven by rotating other types of rotary knobs to the left or the right.

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, when the mother milk is collected to the inlet pipe and the discharge pipe to some extent by the vacuum pumping operation of the vacuum pumping means several times, the condensed air provided by the one-time piston operation of the condensing means is vacuumed. Since the milk is sent to the inlet and the discharge tube through the release means, and the milk in the inlet and the discharge tube falls into the bottle, not only the backflow phenomenon occurs, but the whole breast milk is collected in the bottle without foaming. .

On the other hand, the present invention is not limited only to the above-described embodiment, but can be modified and modified within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention, the technical idea to which such modifications and variations are also applied to the claims Must see

Claims (6)

Vacuum pump means for sucking the air in the funnel placed on the user's chest to allow the milk to flow into the discharge pipe through the inlet pipe coupled to the funnel; Condensing means for receiving and condensing the air sucked by the vacuum pumping means; Vacuum release means for sending the air discharged from the condensation means to the discharge tube to introduce the mother milk collected in the discharge tube into the baby bottle; And And a control means for controlling the operation of said vacuum pumping means, condensing means and vacuum releasing means. The method of claim 1, The vacuum pumping means and the inlet pipe are connected to each other via a connection hose via a connection pipe of a predetermined shape, the antibacterial filter is built in the connection hose connected to the vacuum pumping means, the vacuum pumping means and the connection hose A breast milking machine, characterized in that a transmembrane is formed between the inhaled air. The method of claim 2, The communication tube of the vacuum release means is a breast milking machine, characterized in that connected to the connection tube of the predetermined shape through a connection hose of a predetermined length having an antibacterial filter therein. The method of claim 1, A breast milking machine, characterized in that a passing membrane is formed between the vacuum pumping means and the condensing means for passing the sucked air. The method of claim 1, The condensing means and the vacuum release means are connected to each other via a connection hose of a predetermined length, characterized in that the discharge membrane side of the condensing means is formed with a passing membrane for passing the discharged air. The method of claim 1, The control means operates the vacuum pumping operation of the vacuum pumping means several times, and delivers the sucked air to the condensing means every time, and condenses the condensed air through the vacuum release means. A breast milking machine, characterized in that it is controlled to allow the breast milk collected in the discharge tube to flow into the feeding bottle through the discharge tube.