Method and device for preparing a beverage, preferably milk froth or hot milk

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for producing milk froth, in particular for preparing a beverage containing milk froth in a coffee machine. Prior to preparation, the beverage, preferably cold milk, is at least partially filled into a container (10). The filled beverage is guided in the container (10) positioned on a placement surface (9') of a station (9) via at least one line (5) leading from the station (9) to a device for preferably preparing milk froth or hot milk. The beverage is then guided back into the container (10) and this cycle is preferably repeated until the beverage has a specific temperature and / or consistency. In this way, the container can be used by the operator himself in a conventional manner for preparing a beverage, since the beverage can thereby be prepared manually and individually for the customer according to his needs, and milk froth or a similar beverage of a constantly identical and high quality can nevertheless be produced and served.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a method and a device for preparing a beverage, preferably milk froth or hot milk, according to the preamble of claim 1 or claim 6. Background Art

[0002] In order to generate steam, in particular in coffee machines, it is known to control the steam supply in terms of quantity by a simple valve as a manually operated unit, as disclosed in laid-open patent DE 44 45 436. The steam output is basically used to prepare milk-containing specialty coffees, such as cappuccino, latte macchiato or milky coffee, and in this case to produce milk froth. Hot steam is supplied through a spout that is immersed in the milk in a cup or container, so that the milk is heated and the desired milk froth is produced at the steam inlet by the up and down movement of the cup.

[0003] A device of this type is also known from EP-A-1 501 398. This device consists essentially of a steam generator and a compressed air source and of a steam supply line and a compressed air supply line connected thereto, which is continued by a steam lance immersed in the milk. The mixing of the two media, steam and air, thus takes place already before the steam lance. It is therefore difficult to adjust and to vary the quality of the milk froth depending on the type of beverage to be prepared. In this regard, devices of this type currently have to meet high demands on product quality, although their use and operating conditions generally vary significantly from case to case. Summary of the invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a method and a device of the type mentioned at the outset, in which fresh milk or the like is at least partially filled in a container, such as a jug, in a known manner and in this way milk froth can be produced in particular for beverages of optimal quality.

[0005] This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claim 1 or claim 6 .

[0006] With the method according to the invention, the container can be used by the operator himself in a conventional manner for preparing beverages, since the beverage can thereby be prepared manually and individually for the customer according to his requirements, and milk foam etc. can nevertheless be produced and served with a constantly identical and high quality.

[0007] In this regard, the invention provides that the beverage filled in a container positioned on a placement surface of the station is guided via at least one line leading from the station to a device preferably for preparing milk froth or hot milk and back into the container, and that this cycle is repeated, preferably until the beverage has a certain temperature and / or consistency.

[0008] Such an apparatus is provided with a frothing unit, which comprises at least one line leading from the station, a pump for drawing the milk etc. out of the container and conveying it, an air supply, at least one throttle valve and a heating element which can be switched on or off for the milk etc. The circulation line leads back to the station and allows the prepared milk etc. to be conveyed back to the container.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment of this arrangement, the present invention stipulates that this device is a component of a coffee machine, which is placed invisibly under the counter. Thus, this arrangement is actually invisible to the guest or consumer using the device.

[0010] As an alternative to this, the coffee machine equipped with the device can be placed on a counter or a table in an easily accessible manner. This can especially enable direct manipulation of the coffee machine, making the operation on the coffee machine simpler. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The present invention and its further advantages are explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings by means of embodiments.

[0012] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the hydraulics of the device according to the invention is shown, the device having a station and a container placed thereon;

[0013] Figure 2 A longitudinal section through the station and the container placed thereon is shown with the opening closed;

[0014] Figure 3 Shown in accordance with Figure 2 A longitudinal section of a device when the opening is open;

[0015] Figure 4 shows a partial view of a workbench with a station and a container placed thereon and with a coffee machine outlined in the table furniture;

[0016] Figure 5 A schematically illustrated coffee machine is shown with a station placed aside and a container placed thereon; and

[0017] Figure 6 The hydraulic diagram of the device according to the invention is shown, which has a tank for supplying beverages. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] exist Figure 1 The device 1 for preparing beverages shown in the embodiment is manufactured as a separate milk mixing module or is integrated in a coffee machine. With this device 1, hot milk, cold or hot milk foam or milk mixtures for cappuccino, latte macchiato, chocolate, vanilla or other beverages can be produced.

[0019] In this device 1, a placement surface 9' is preferably provided on a worktop or in the coffee machine for a container 10 which can be placed manually thereon. A metallic milk jug is used as the container 10. A milk jug or a can made of porcelain or the like can also be used. This container 10 can be lifted from the station 9 or placed on the station, wherein appropriate centering means, for example centering pins, allow the container to be positioned precisely on the station.

[0020] In the method according to the invention, the beverage filled in the container 10 positioned on the placement surface 9' of the station 9 is guided via the line 5 leading from the station 9 to the device 1 for preparing preferably cold or hot milk froth or hot milk, and then guided back into the container 10. The cycle of the beverage to be prepared from the container through the line, the device and back to the container again is repeated automatically, preferably until the beverage has a certain temperature and / or consistency. However, in principle, this can also be controlled in terms of time and / or quantity.

[0021] The frothing unit 3 of the device 1 for heating milk or for producing cold or hot milk froth 1 is essentially composed of a line 5 leading from a station 9 on a counter, a temperature sensor 21, a throttle valve 14 formed by a pump 13 for conveying the beverage, and an air supply device 12 arranged before or after the throttle valve. Immediately thereafter, a connecting element 16 for supplying steam, which is connected to a steam line 22 and opens at right angles into the line 5, a thermometer 17, and a milk froth-consistency meter 18 are arranged. The line 5 is then led back to the station 9.

[0022] This milk foam consistency meter 18 is advantageously formed by an electrical sensor, wherein the conductivity or resistance of the milk foam flowing through is measured. However, it is also possible to dispense with this meter 18 and, in order to achieve the desired consistency of the foamed beverage, to detect the temperature with a thermometer 17 of the beverage and, depending on this temperature, to adjust the rotation speed of the pump 13 by regulation or control, so as to set the target temperature and thus the desired consistency, which, however, can also be achieved by controlling the amount of air supplied via the air supply 12 with a proportional valve 12'.

[0023] This device 1 comprises a heating device with a steam line 22, which is used to heat the beverage, for example, by means of water vapor, which can be supplied in a controlled manner from a boiler, which is not shown in detail. The steam line 22 leads to the line 5 of the frothing unit 3, which circulates milk or the like, via a shut-off valve 32 and a non-return valve 33, which are actuated by a corresponding control device. The hot steam is thus introduced into the beverage flowing through the line 5 via this steam line 22, so that the beverage is heated quickly.

[0024] Furthermore, a water supply for cleaning, a filter unit 15 and a valve 35 are shown in the device 1, wherein the water supply has a supply line 19 that opens into the line 5. Furthermore, a two-way valve 23 is provided for this cleaning, which is used to loop the line 5 over the additional line 6 with the cleaning agent supply 19, and a non-return valve 26 is also provided.

[0025] When cleaning the foam generating unit 3, the line 5 and the container 10, the valves 35, 23 are switched so that water is sucked into the line 5 by means of the pump 13 and is passed through the line 6 with the detergent supply 19, for example with the cleaning tablets 19', through the line 5, the container 10 and back again through the pump 13 into the line 6 to create a circuit and thus circulate the water. At the end of the cleaning process, the two-way valve 24 can be opened and the washing water can flow into the collecting container 37.

[0026] Advantageously, cleaning is frequently carried out exclusively with water without connecting the line 6 , during which the water circulates via the line 5 through the foam generating unit 3 and the container 10 and is subsequently conducted into the collecting container 37 .

[0027] according to Figure 2 and Figure 3 , the container 10 shown in the lower part comprises a wall and a base 10' and a closing mechanism 20, wherein the base has two through-openings 11, 11' extending side by side. This closing mechanism 20 consists of a vertical shaft 25 preloaded by means of a compression spring 34, a closing element 31 fastened to the vertical shaft at the top, and an inlet 36 and an outlet 35 for the through-openings 11, 11', which extend in correspondence with the closing element. In addition, corresponding sealing elements 37, 38 are arranged in the base 10', which ensure that the container is sealed when a beverage is filled in the container and placed on the stand.

[0028] In the station 9, a pipeline connector 45 is provided for connecting the ports 11, 11' to the pipeline 5, and a lifting mechanism 46 with a push rod 47 is provided, which can be adjusted vertically and abuts against the lower end face of the vertical shaft 25 in the container 10. This push rod 47 can be adjusted to two positions in a controlled manner by the lifting mechanism 46 and has the following result, namely: the closing element 31 of the closing mechanism 20 can be positioned in the closed or open position inside the housing through this vertical shaft 25, such as in Figure 2 or Figure 3 This compression spring 34 acting on the vertical axis 25 achieves the following result, that is, when the beverage is not to be circulated, the closing element 31 is automatically moved into the closed position with the vertical axis 25 and the container is always closed as a result.

[0029] Thus, as required, a certain selectable amount of cold milk or milk mixture can preferably be filled into this jug shown as container 10. After the jug is placed on the station 9, the cold milk is sucked out of the jug and prepared, for example, as cold or hot milk froth by circulation. In this way, fine milk froth can be produced within a few seconds. Thus, the operator can prepare a beverage faster than if milk, etc. had to be produced manually in a coffee machine by a conventional steam lance inserted into the jug by hand movements. In addition, the person who orders the beverage and stands at the counter cannot see and feel, for example, the production of milk froth in the jug standing on the station 9.

[0030] In accordance with Figure 4 In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the device 1 according to the invention is arranged as a separate milk preparation module as well as a coffee machine 27 and an associated refrigerator 27' in a table furniture 28. The station 9 connected to the device 1 is mounted on a table top 29. The coffee machine 27, which will be explained below, has an outlet above the table top 29 that is not visible and can be arranged on a column or the like. In addition, the hot steam required in the device 1 is advantageously generated in the coffee machine 27, which is connected to each other via a steam supply line that is not shown in detail.

[0031] Figure 5 A variant is shown in which the coffee machine 27 is placed arbitrarily on a shelf 39' of a counter 39, a table or the like, and the station 9 is arranged next to the coffee machine 27 with the container 10 that can be placed thereon, wherein the invisible device 1 is integrated into the coffee machine 27. In the coffee machine 27 shown in principle, its housing 41 is visible, on the front side of which one or more outlets 42 for coffee are visible, on the upper side a coffee bean tank 44 is visible, and in the lower part a drip tray 43 is visible, on which cups for coffee and / or milk or milk froth etc. can be placed. Furthermore, in addition to the coffee machine 27 or the drip tray 43, the station 9 is advantageously positioned laterally, which station is provided with the lines of the device 1 that lead to the interior of the housing 41 of the coffee machine 27.

[0032] The method or the device according to the invention for heating milk can be used in a milk module as a separate unit or can be applied or integrated in a coffee machine as explained above, in particular for producing cappuccino or other hot milk beverages.

[0033] In accordance with Figure 6 In another variant, the beverage is not supplied from a container 10 that can stand upright, but is delivered from a tank 61 to a container similar to that according to Figure 1The device is constructed by a device and is connected to an outlet 71, below which, for example, a cup can be placed. Here, milk is sucked in by a controllable pump 64, such as a gear pump, through an intake line 65. In addition, an air supply line 63 with a switchable air control valve 66 is connected in front of the pump 64, and hot steam is transported transversely to this passage 65 as a heating medium through two steam lines 67 each provided with a shut-off valve 68 and a non-return valve 69, wherein only one steam line 67 can also be provided. In addition, it is advantageous that the throttle valve 71 is preferably located in the line 65 after the pump 64.

[0034] According to the present invention, the beverage is guided by a pipe 65 leading from a storage tank 61 to a foam generating unit 60 for preparing a beverage, preferably milk foam or hot milk, from the foam generating unit via a pipe 65' to a chamber 62 and back to the foam generating unit 60, and this cycle is repeated, preferably until the beverage has a specific temperature and / or consistency and the beverage is thus guided to an outlet 73.

[0035] For this purpose, a two-way valve 72 is arranged in the line 65, respectively, before and after the pump 64, by means of which the beverage is either conducted via the line 65' into the chamber 62 for such a circulation or such a loop or directly to the outlet 73. From this chamber 62, the cold or hot milk mixture is then sucked in again by the pump 64 via the two-way valve 72 and, depending on the case, is again conducted either into the chamber 62 or only to the outlet 73. The dimensions of the chamber 62 are preferably designed in such a way that the portion of the beverage to be prepared corresponds approximately at least to the portion required for a cup or a reservoir provided at the outlet 73. This beverage portion is determined by the controlled opening or closing of the valve 74 in the line 65.

[0036] Furthermore, a temperature meter 17 or a consistency meter 18 for the milk froth is arranged in the frothing unit 60 , which temperature meter or consistency meter can cause a switching of the two-way valve 72 via a corresponding control mechanism based on the measurement.

[0037] according to Figure 6 The device is integrated in the coffee machine or in a separate milk frother and it allows to produce high-quality milk froth in a cold or hot state.

[0038] Of course, the invention can also be explained by other embodiments, so that instead of a steam source as heating medium, the beverage can be heated in another way, for example by known continuous heaters or the like.

[0039] At least one or both openings provided in the container can also be arranged in a side wall of the container.

[0040] In principle, instead of ports and shut-off valves in the container, hoses immersed in the container can also be used. These hoses are then provided with shut-off valves that have the same effect.

Claims

1. A method for preparing a beverage containing milk froth or hot milk, wherein the beverage is at least partially filled into a container (10) before preparation, in, The filled beverage is guided to a device for preparing milk froth or hot milk and back into the container (10), and this cycle is repeated until the beverage has a certain temperature and / or consistency, wherein the filled beverage is guided in the container (10) positioned on a placement surface (9') of the station (9) via at least one line (5) leading from the station (9) to the device for preparing milk froth or hot milk and in the cycle is guided back into the container (10) via at least one line (5) leading to the station (9), A device for carrying out the method is provided, wherein a frothing unit (3) is provided, which comprises at least one line (5) leading from the station (9), a pump (13) for sucking and conveying milk from the container (10), an air supply (12) arranged upstream or downstream of the pump, at least one throttle valve (14) and a heating device for the milk, wherein the line (5) leads back into the station (9) and the milk to be prepared can be fed back into the container (10), In this case, an automatic sealed connection to at least one pipeline (5) of the foam generating unit (3) is formed in a specific position by placing the container (10) on a placement surface (9') of the station (9), wherein a closing mechanism (20) is arranged in the container, which opens or closes a passage for beverage to come out of the container or enter the container, wherein the beverage is guided into the pipeline (5) from at least one opening (11) provided at the bottom of the container (10).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The beverage is directed back into the container (10) via at least one second passage (11').

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: When the container (10) is placed on the placement surface (9') of the station (9), the at least one opening (11) is automatically connected to the line (5).

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The beverage sucked out of the container (10) is processed and / or heated by means of a device integrated in a worktop or a coffee machine to prepare a foamed beverage, and then the beverage is returned to the container (10) and this cycle is repeated until the beverage has a specific temperature and / or consistency.

5. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: In order to achieve a desired consistency of the foamed beverage, the temperature of the foamed beverage is measured and the pump speed is adjusted as a function of the temperature by regulation or control in such a way that a target temperature and thus the desired consistency is set.

6. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The closing mechanism can be actuated by a lifting mechanism (46) having a tappet (47).

7. A device for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that A steam line (22) of a heating device as a heating means is provided with a connecting element (16) which leads transversely into the line (5), wherein the heating device has a boiler which generates hot steam which is guided via the steam line (22) into the line (5) for circulating milk.

8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that The foam generating unit (3) and / or the heating mechanism of the device (1) are integrated as a separate device or are integrated into a coffee machine (27), and the separate device or the coffee machine (27) is placed invisibly in an operating table or on a counter (39).

9. The device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that A thermometer (17) and / or a consistency meter (18) for the milk foam is arranged in the frothing unit (3), by means of which the milk flowing through the line (5) can be measured or ascertained, wherein the electrical conductivity or resistance of the flowing milk foam is evaluated in the consistency meter.

10. A container for a device according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that At least one opening is provided in the container (10), which is used to be connected to a pipeline (5) of the device (1), wherein a closing mechanism (20) is arranged, which opens or closes the at least one opening and thereby opens or closes a passage for the beverage to be prepared to come out of the container or enter the container.

11. The container according to claim 10, characterized in that Two openings are provided in the container (10).

12. The container according to claim 10, characterized in that The closing mechanism (20) consists of a vertical shaft (25) preloaded by means of a compression spring (34), a closing element (31) fastened thereto, and a projecting inlet (36) and outlet (35) for passage in the container (10) corresponding to the closing element.

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