Patent ID: 8863688

Claim:
A milking liner for an automated milking machine having a shell; the milking machine periodically subjecting the liner to a vacuum milking condition; the milking liner comprising: a barrel having an upper end and a lower end; the barrel having an inner surface and an outer surface; a mouthpiece bead disposed at the upper end of the barrel; a mouthpiece having an upper end and a lower end; the lower end of the mouthpiece being connected to the upper end of the barrel; the mouthpiece bead being disposed at the lower end of the mouthpiece; the barrel having a longitudinal axis; the barrel defining at least three channels open to the inner surface of the barrel; each channel being disposed generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the barrel; each channel having an upper end and a lower end; the upper end of each channel terminating at the mouthpiece bead; the barrel having a plurality of sidewall segments; each sidewall segment being disposed intermediate two channels; each sidewall segment having an outer surface that defines a portion of the outer surface of the barrel; the sidewall segments being movable between uncollapsed and collapsed conditions; the sidewall segments being in the collapsed condition during the vacuum milking condition; and wherein the upper end of each channel is tapered.