Milk module for producing milk foam or heating milk, preferably for installation in a coffee machine.

Abstract

A milk module (2) for producing milk foam or heating milk, preferably for installation in a coffee machine, is designed as an independent unit. This milk module (2) comprises a cooling chamber (5) connected to a cooling unit for receiving a milk container (6), a feed pump, a steam generation device (26), a milk heating device (24) or a milk foam generation device (24), and a connecting element. This connecting element allows the heated milk or the produced milk foam to be conveyed through an outlet line to the coffee outlet of the coffee machine. It is particularly advantageous that a cleaning container (14) containing a cleaning agent can be placed in the cooling chamber (5) instead of the milk container (6). For this purpose, a [missing information] is provided in the area of ​​the cooling box (4) extending forward or [missing information].The suction hose is arranged in a rearward pivoting position and hangs freely downwards, and in the forward pivoting position can be inserted from above into the milk container (6) or into the cleaning container (14) without contact when the latter is placed inside.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a milk module for producing milk foam or milk drinks, preferably for installation in a coffee machine according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Coffee machines with integrated modules for producing milk foam or for heating milk are known to be built in a wide variety of designs. They enable the automatic production of both coffee, such as espresso, and mixed drinks made from coffee with milk or milk foam, in particular cappuccino.

[0003] Coffee machines are usually equipped with a cleaning device that automatically performs periodic cleaning of the machine during operation. In the case of compact coffee machines, it is difficult to incorporate such a cleaning device into the design because of space limitations.

[0004] The invention is based on the objective of avoiding these disadvantages and creating a coffee machine of the type mentioned above which, with a simple design and easy handling, can perform the above-mentioned functions with the least possible space requirement.

[0005] This problem is solved according to the invention according to the features of claim 1 or claim 4.

[0006] By designing the milk module according to the invention as an independent unit with this connecting means preferably provided as a plug coupling, it can be easily mounted in a coffee machine housing and the milk outlet can be arranged at the coffee outlet.

[0007] With the design according to the invention, a considerable saving of space can be achieved because, after removing the milk container from the refrigerator box, the installation space it occupies becomes available for accommodating the cleaning container, so that no additional space is required for the latter.

[0008] The invention further provides that the milk container or the cleaning container is connected to the machine's working circuit by means of a suction hose which is pivotably mounted forwards or backwards in the upper part of the refrigerator box and hangs freely downwards. The pivotability of the suction hose allows it to be inserted into or removed from the container independently, without the operator having to touch it during the exchange process.

[0009] According to the invention, it is very advantageous that the cleaning container includes a device with a water supply channel, a defined opening for receiving a cleaning agent, and an outlet opening. This allows water to be directed through this supply channel into this opening, where the cleaning agent can be dissolved, emulsified with the water, and the cleaning container filled. This enables easy handling for cleaning and precise dosing of the cleaning agent, for which cleaning tablets are particularly suitable.

[0010] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment and the drawing. It shows: <tb>Fig. 1 <sep>A coffee machine shown in perspective with the milk module, where the coffee module is not shown; <tb>Fig. 2 <sep>a perspective side view of the milk module according to Fig. 1; <tb>Fig. 3 <sep>a section of the plug connector on the top of the milk module; <tb>Fig. 4 <sep>the refrigerator box of the milk module according to Fig. 2 before the insertion of a container; <tb>Fig. 5 <sep>the refrigerator box of the milk module according to Fig. 2 when inserting the milk container; <tb>Fig. 6 <sep>a perspective view of a cleaning container for the milk module according to Fig. 2; and <tb>Fig. 7 <sep>A diagram of the hydraulic circuit of the milk module according to Fig. 2.

[0011] The coffee machine 1 shown in Fig. 1, comprising a housing 3, is used for the automatic production of coffee or coffee-based beverages, as well as mixed beverages made from coffee with milk or milk foam. It consists of a coffee module for producing coffee, of which only the openings 3' in the housing 3 for its installation are illustrated, and a milk module 2 for preparing milk or milk foam, which can be installed independently of each other in the common housing 3 in a space-saving manner. The coffee module 1 itself consists of conventional components and is not described in detail. Only a drip tray 3'' at the front of the housing 3 is shown, onto which a cup or the like can be placed for pouring coffee and / or milk or milk foam.

[0012] The milk module 2, which can be installed in the housing 3, is equipped with a refrigerator box 4, the cooling chamber 5 of which can accommodate a milk container 6. The optionally lockable cooling chamber 5 is easily accessible through a cabinet door 7 located at the front of the machine. This allows the milk container 6 to be placed in or removed from the cooling chamber 5 of the refrigerator box 4 after opening this cabinet door 7. The cooling chamber 5 is designed so that the milk container 6 fits into it with almost no play.

[0013] As can be seen from Fig. 2, the milk module 2 according to the invention is designed as an independent unit, which includes a cooling chamber 5 connected to a cooling unit 4' for receiving the milk container 6, a feed pump, a boiler 26 for generating the steam, a device 24 for heating or for generating the milk foam and a connecting means through which the heated milk or the generated milk foam can be conveyed through a line to the coffee outlet of the coffee machine.

[0014] In addition, this milk module 2 includes an electronic control unit 18, lines not explained in detail and plug connections not visible on the back.

[0015] According to Fig. 3, the connecting element is advantageously formed as a plug-in coupling 33 with two preferably axially parallel sockets 36, 37, into which the inlet and outlet lines 39, 40 can be inserted in a sealing and dead-space-optimized manner. One socket 36, 37 is arranged protruding towards a slide-in housing 2' surrounding the refrigerator box 4, to which the outlet line 40 can be connected in the coffee machine 1.

[0016] The plug-in coupling 33 has a connecting piece 35 which is provided at both ends with a socket 36 or 37, respectively, the connecting piece 35 being attached to the housing 3. On the rear side, these sockets are preferably connected to a hose bend 41.

[0017] After the milk module is installed in the housing 3, it is only necessary to connect the output line 40 to the push-fit coupling 36. The push-fit coupling 33 is characterized by a very simple design and safe handling. Of course, other types of couplings can also be used for this purpose.

[0018] Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 illustrate an intake hose 11 which, according to the invention, is mounted in the upper area of ​​the refrigerator box 4 so as to pivot forwards or backwards and is oriented downwards and hangs freely.

[0019] The suction hose 11 is rotatably held by a swivel drive 12, preferably located in the upper region of the refrigerator box 4 and preferably manually operated. For this purpose, a locking point is provided at a pivot point 13 of the swivel drive 12, through which the suction hose 11 protrudes from the cooling chamber 5 when the refrigerator is open and the milk container 6 has been removed. In this forward-pivoted position 11', the suction hose can be inserted from above into the milk container 6 or into a cleaning container 14 when the container is placed in the cooling chamber 5. This allows the suction hose to be integrated into the cooling chamber 5 in a space-saving manner.

[0020] When the milk container is reinserted, the suction hose 11 is inserted through the opening 10 of the milk container 4 without touching it. Once the milk container is placed in the refrigerator box 4, the suction hose is again directed downwards so that its lower end extends almost to the bottom of the container. The milk container 6 can also be closed by a lid 8.

[0021] According to the invention, the milk container 6 can be replaced by a cleaning container 14. This eliminates the additional installation space otherwise required for the cleaning container or similar items, thus enabling a reduced size of the coffee machine.

[0022] Fig. 6 shows a cleaning container 14 that is particularly suitable for this purpose and is advantageously dimensioned with the same shape and external dimensions as the milk container 6. In contrast to the latter, however, this cleaning container includes a device 15 with a water supply channel 17, a defined opening 16́ for receiving a cleaning agent, and an outlet opening 17́.

[0023] Advantageously, the water supply channel 17, arranged in the upper part of the container, is guided tangentially into this cylindrically shaped opening 16́, accessible from above, in which at least one cleaning tablet 16 can be inserted as a soluble cleaning agent. Preferably, it is ring-shaped and provided with a central bore so that it can be positioned and detected in the opening 16́ by the centering pin 46 with approximately no play.

[0024] To dissolve the tablets, water is supplied tangentially from the refrigerator box 4 into the water supply channel 17 onto the tablets 16, and the water with the dissolved tablet runs out through the outlet opening 17, collects in the cleaning container 14 and is then directed from there into the milk module through the suction hose 11 inserted into the cleaning container.

[0025] Fig. 7 schematically shows the working circuit of the milk module 2, which is delimited by the dashed lines 19. The refrigerator box 4 with the milk container 6 and the cleaning container 14 is indicated by dashed lines 20. For milk supply, the suction hose 11 is connected via a line 21a, a two-way valve 22, an air intake valve 23, and a feed pump 42 to a heating chamber of the unit 24, the latter of which can also be connected to the boiler 26 and a switching valve 27 for steam supply. An external water tank 28 can be connected to the boiler 26 via a filter 29 and a water pump 25.

[0026] For the periodic cleaning process of the milk module 2, the cleaning container 14 is placed in the cooling chamber 5. The suction hose 11 therein is connected to a line 21b with the two-way valves 30 and 32. This allows the heating chamber of the device 24 and the feed pump 42 with the associated lines to be flushed.

[0027] The plug coupling 33 and the output line 40 are also shown, which leads to a cup 44 or the like on the drip tray 3́́ for filling with milk or milk foam.

[0028] The invention is sufficiently demonstrated by the embodiment described above. However, it could of course be disclosed in other ways. For example, the connecting means for conveying the heated milk or the produced milk foam from the milk module to the outlet of the coffee machine could be provided differently than by a plug coupling, such as by a hose connection. In principle, an outlet line (40) for each coffee machine module could also be provided on both sides of the milk module.< / sep> < / tb> < / sep> < / tb> < / sep> < / tb> < / sep> < / tb> < / sep> < / tb> < / sep> < / tb> < / sep> < / tb>

Claims

1. Milk module for producing milk foam or milk drinks, preferably for installation in a coffee machine, comprising a milk container (6), a feed pump (42) and a device (24) for heating the milk or for producing milk foam or other milk drinks, characterized in that the milk module (2) is designed as an independent unit, which includes a cooling chamber (5) connected to a cooling unit for receiving the milk container (6), the feed pump (42), a device for generating steam, the device (24) for heating milk or for producing milk foam, and a connecting means through which the heated milk or the produced milk foam can be conveyed through at least one outlet line (40) to the coffee outlet of the coffee machine.

2. Milk module according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting means is formed by a plug coupling (33) with two preferably axially parallel sockets (36, 37) into which the inlet and outlet lines (39, 40) can be inserted in a sealing manner.

3. Milk module according to claim 2, characterized in that one socket (36, 37) is arranged protruding to a slide-in housing (2́) surrounding the refrigerator box (4), to which the output line (40) in the coffee machine (1) can be coupled.

4. Milk module for producing milk foam or milk drinks, preferably for installation in a coffee machine, comprising a milk container (6), a feed pump and a device (24) for heating the milk or producing milk foam or other milk drinks, characterized in that a cleaning system is integrated into the milk module, which is designed as an independent unit, by means of which a cleaning process is made possible, in particular by means of the feed pump (42), the device (24) for heating or producing milk foam and the inlet and outlet lines (39, 40), for this purpose a cleaning container (14) with a cleaning agent can be placed in the cooling chamber (5) instead of the milk container (6).

5. Milk module according to claim 4, characterized in that a suction hose (11) is provided which is pivotably mounted forwards or backwards in the area of ​​the refrigerator box (4) and hangs freely downwards, and which in the forward pivoted position (11́) can be inserted from above into the milk container (6) or into the cleaning container (14) when the latter is placed in it without contact.

6. Milk module according to claim 5, characterized in that the suction hose (11) is rotatable by a swivel drive (12) located in the area of ​​the refrigerator box (4) and preferably manually operable.

7. Milk module according to claim 6, characterized in that the swivel drive (12) is provided at its pivot point (13) with a locking point in which the suction hose (11) is locked forward out of the refrigerator box (4) in a position (11́) after removal of the milk container (6) or the cleaning container (14).

8. Milk module according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the suction hose (11) is pivoted by the swivel drive (12) when the milk container (6) or cleaning container (14) is placed into the refrigerator box (4) until it is directed downwards again so that its lower end extends approximately to the bottom of the respective container.

9. Cleaning container for a milk module according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the cleaning container (14) contains a device (15) with a water supply channel (17), a defined opening (16́) for receiving a cleaning agent, in particular a tablet, and an outlet opening (17́), by means of which water can be directed through this supply channel (17) into this opening (16́) and the cleaning agent, in particular the tablet, is dissolved therein and emulsified with the water and can flow into the cleaning container (14) via the outlet opening (17́).

10. Milk module according to claim 9, characterized in that the water supply channel (17) is guided tangentially into this cylindrically formed opening (16́) in which at least one cleaning tablet (16) can be positioned and detected as a soluble cleaning agent.