Coffee machine and method for dispensing a dairy emulsion with such a coffee machine

Abstract

The present invention provides a coffee machine (1), which coffee machine comprises: a water tank (23); a boiler (2) for generating steam; a water supply pump (3) for supplying water to the boiler (2) to generate steam; an external coffee dispenser (4); an external steam dispenser (5) having a dispensing opening (21) for dispensing a steam flow; a dairy container (6) having an emulsifying device for emulsifying dairy products by means of the Venturi effect generated by the steam flow, the emulsifying device (7) having a mixing chamber (10) for mixing dairy products / steam / air; a dairy suction channel (12) through the Venturi effect having an inlet opening (11) leading into the mixing chamber (10); an air suction channel (14) through the Venturi effect having a valve device (15) and an inlet opening (13) leading into the mixing chamber (10), the mixing chamber (10) having a sealed detachable connection opening (16) to the external steam dispenser (5) and an outlet opening (17) of the dairy emulsion that is aligned with the steam dispensing opening (21) and connected to an external dispenser (9) of the dairy emulsion, wherein the outlet opening (17) of the dairy emulsion is larger than the steam dispensing opening (21) for activating the Venturi effect, and the dairy suction channel (12) is dimensioned to have a minimum passage area that is large enough to provide, by means of the Venturi effect, the efficiency of the dairy suction corresponding to the dispensing of the dairy emulsion at a temperature not exceeding 25 °C above the temperature of the dairy product present in the dairy container (6).

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a coffee machine and a method for dispensing a dairy emulsion with said coffee machine. Background art

[0002] Coffee machines comprising a dairy container with a Venturi effect dairy emulsifying device are currently widely available commercially.

[0003] These coffee machines are designed to obtain an emulsion of hot dairy product in a cup.

[0004] In fact, the steam produced by the coffee machine's boiler is sent into a mixing chamber provided in the emulsifying device, where the Venturi effect creates a vacuum that sucks the dairy product from a suitable dairy container and air from the external atmospheric environment.

[0005] Typically, the temperature of the dairy emulsion is significantly higher than the ambient temperature of 25 °C, due to the fact that the steam required to trigger the Venturi effect has the further effect of heating the dairy product.

[0006] In fact, typically, a dairy emulsion can be produced in the cup at a final temperature between 50 °C and 75 °C.

[0007] It has been determined that the temperature of food affects the perception of taste that occurs in the taste buds on the tongue and is completed by the aroma sensed by the receptors of the nasal mucosa.

[0008] In fact, in the mouth, the temperature of food or drink changes the microscopic channels of the taste buds and sends signals to the brain via the taste nerves.

[0009] Below 15 °C, the taste buds are almost paralyzed, while at 37 °C, the sensitivity of the taste buds increases by more than 100 times, and for this reason, the sweetness of ice cream is only perceived when it melts in the mouth.

[0010] On the other hand, hot food releases steam that reaches the nasal mucosa and contributes approximately 80% to the perception of taste, but if the temperature exceeds 35 °C, the perception of taste decreases because the burning sensation masks the nuances of the taste. Summary of the invention

[0011] Therefore, the technical task solved by the present invention is to manufacture a coffee machine suitable for enhancing the perception of the taste of the dispensed dairy emulsion.

[0012] Within the scope of this technical task, an object of the present invention is to manufacture a coffee machine suitable for dispensing a dairy emulsion at a low temperature. Another object of the present invention is to manufacture a coffee machine having a dairy emulsifying device that is easy to clean.

[0013] A further object of the present invention is to manufacture a coffee machine having a set of interchangeable dairy emulsifying devices for producing dairy emulsions at low and high temperatures.

[0014] According to the technical task of the present invention and these and other objects are achieved by manufacturing a coffee machine, the coffee machine comprising: a water tank; a boiler for generating steam; a water supply pump for supplying water to the boiler to generate steam; an external coffee dispenser; an external steam dispenser having a dispensing opening for dispensing a steam flow; a dairy container having an emulsifying device for emulsifying dairy products by the Venturi effect generated by the steam flow, the emulsifying device having a mixing chamber for mixing dairy / steam / air; a dairy suction channel by the Venturi effect having an inlet opening into the mixing chamber; an air suction channel by the Venturi effect having a valve device and an inlet opening into the mixing chamber, the mixing chamber having a sealed detachable connection opening to the external steam dispenser and an outlet opening of the dairy emulsion aligned with the steam dispensing opening and connected to an external dispenser of the dairy emulsion, wherein the outlet opening of the dairy emulsion is larger than the steam dispensing opening for activating the Venturi effect, characterized in that the minimum passage area of the dairy suction channel has a diameter of not less than 5 mm, the dispensing opening area of the external steam dispenser has a diameter between 0.5 mm and 2 mm, the outlet opening area has a diameter between 2 mm and 5 mm, the air inlet opening in the air suction channel adjustable by the valve device has a diameter between 0.3 mm and 2 mm in the maximum opening configuration, and the external steam dispenser is configured to dispense a steam flow between 0.8 g / s and 1.2 g / s at a steam temperature between 110 °C and 130 °C and at a steam pressure between 0.5 atm and 2 atm.

[0015] The present invention also discloses a dispensing method for dispensing a dairy emulsion into a cup using a coffee machine, the coffee machine comprising: a water tank; a boiler for generating steam; a water supply pump for supplying water to the boiler to generate steam; an external coffee dispenser; an external steam dispenser having a dispensing opening for dispensing a steam flow; a dairy container having an emulsifying device for emulsifying the dairy by means of the Venturi effect generated by the steam flow, the emulsifying device having a mixing chamber for mixing dairy / steam / air; a dairy suction channel by means of the Venturi effect having an inlet opening leading into the mixing chamber; an air suction channel by means of the Venturi effect having a valve device and an inlet opening leading into the mixing chamber, the mixing chamber having a sealed detachable connection opening to the external steam dispenser and an outlet opening for the dairy emulsion aligned with the steam dispensing opening and connected to an external dispenser for the dairy emulsion, wherein the outlet opening for the dairy emulsion is larger than the steam dispensing opening for activating the Venturi effect, characterized in that a dairy emulsion stream having a value between 10 g / s and 15 g / s is dispensed at a temperature not exceeding 25 °C higher than the temperature of the dairy present in the dairy container, the reduced thermal energy contribution corresponding to the weight of the condensed steam in the dairy emulsion, the weight of the condensed steam being 2% to 8% greater than the weight of the dairy suctioned from the dairy container.

[0016] In one embodiment of the invention, a dairy emulsion stream having a value between 10 g / s and 15 g / s is dispensed at a temperature not exceeding 20 °C higher than the temperature of the dairy present in the dairy container.

[0017] In one embodiment of the invention, the container is filled with a dairy having a temperature between 3 °C and 7 °C.

[0018] In one embodiment of the invention, the dairy container has a heat insulating member.

[0019] In one embodiment of the invention, the dairy suction channel is interchangeable with a dairy suction channel having a smaller minimum passage area.

[0020] In one embodiment of the invention, the valve device is interchangeable with a valve device that provides an adjustable inlet opening for air to enter the air suction channel and has a smaller area in the maximum opening configuration. In one embodiment of the invention, the coffee machine has a cup resting surface, the external coffee dispenser is constructed and arranged for direct dispensing into a cup located on the cup resting surface, and the external dairy emulsion dispenser is constructed and arranged for direct dispensing into the cup. Description of the Drawings

[0021] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of a coffee machine according to the present invention, which is shown by way of approximate and non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0022] Figure 1 A coffee machine with a connected emulsifying device is shown;

[0023] Figure 2 A coffee machine with a disconnected emulsifying device is shown;

[0024] Figure 3 A vertical section of the mixing chamber of an emulsifying device for producing a cold dairy emulsion is shown;

[0025] Figure 4 A knob with valve means for producing a cold dairy emulsion is shown;

[0026] Figure 5 A vertical section of the mixing chamber of an emulsifying device for producing a hot dairy emulsion is shown;

[0027] Figure 6 A knob with valve means for producing a hot dairy emulsion is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Referring to the accompanying drawings cited, a coffee machine is shown, which is generally designated by the reference numeral 1.

[0029] The coffee machine 1 includes: a water tank 23, a boiler 2 for generating steam, a water supply pump 3 for supplying water to the boiler 2 to generate steam, an external coffee dispenser 4, an external steam dispenser 5, and a dairy container 6 having an emulsifying device 7 for emulsifying dairy products by the Venturi effect.

[0030] The external steam dispenser 5 is configured to dispense a steam flow between 0.8 g / s and 1.2 g / s at a temperature between 110°C and 130°C and at a pressure between 0.5 atm and 2 atm.

[0031] Preferably, the coffee machine 1 is configured to directly dispense the dairy emulsion into a cup, and for this purpose has a cup resting surface 8 on which the dairy container 6 also rests.

[0032] Specifically, the external coffee dispenser 4 is constructed and arranged to directly dispense into a cup located below the cup resting surface 8, and the emulsifying device 7 has an external dispenser 9 for the dairy emulsion, which is also constructed and arranged to directly dispense into the cup.

[0033] The emulsifying device 7 has a mixing chamber 10 for mixing dairy product / steam / air, a dairy product suction passage 12 for sucking out the dairy product drawn from the dairy product container 6 by the Venturi effect and having an inlet opening 11 leading into the mixing chamber 10, an air suction passage 14 by the Venturi effect having a valve device 15 and an inlet opening 13 leading into the mixing chamber 10, a sealing and detachable connection opening 16 to an external steam distributor 5, and an outlet opening 17 for the dairy product emulsion leading to an external distributor 9 of the dairy product emulsion.

[0034] The emulsifying device 7 is integrated into a removable cap 18 of the dairy product container 6, but in one form it can be directly integrated into the dairy product container 6.

[0035] The outlet opening 17 is located on an extension of the axis L of the external steam distributor 5, while the dairy product inlet opening 11 and the air inlet opening 13 are arranged radially on a side opposite to the extension of the axis L of the external steam distributor 5.

[0036] The dairy product suction passage 12 can be at least partially composed of a structurally independent tubular member rigidly connected to the body of the mixing chamber 10 and extending all the way to the bottom of the dairy product container 6.

[0037] The external distributor 9 of the dairy product emulsion can be at least partially composed of a structurally independent tubular member rotatably connected to the body of the mixing chamber 10 between a rest position and a dispensing position.

[0038] The valve device 15 can include a shutter and a knob 20 for driving it adapted to close or open the air suction passage 14 in an adjustable manner.

[0039] In the case examined, the shutter consists of a hollow rod 30 which extends coaxially and is rigidly constrained to the knob 20.

[0040] The hollow rod 30 is in turn coaxially received in the air suction passage 14 and engages peripherally with the inclined inner peripheral ribs 31 of the air suction passage 14.

[0041] The inclined ribs 31 can be formed on a removable part of the air suction passage 14.

[0042] The hollow rod 30 is provided with an air inlet opening 22 in the air suction passage 14.

[0043] The air inlet opening 22 in the air suction passage 14 is configured as a slit extending in the axial direction of the hollow rod 30.

[0044] Atmospheric air enters the cavity of the rod 30 through the slit, and the cavity of the rod 30 is in direct communication with the inlet opening 13 for air to enter the mixing chamber 10.

[0045] The rotation of the knob 20 about its axis changes the intersection position of the slit and the inclined rib 31, and then changes the cross-section of the slit for air to enter the air suction channel 14.

[0046] The cross-section of the slit for air to enter the air suction channel 14 is actually the cross-section between the vertex of the slit and the point where the slit intersects the rib 31.

[0047] When the inclined rib 31 is located at the upper vertex of the slit, the air suction channel 14 is closed.

[0048] Starting from this position, when the knob 20 rotates, the gradually increasing part of the slit opens, and then the inlet area for air to enter the air suction channel 14 gradually increases to the maximum value.

[0049] Downstream of the slit, the air passage area along the air suction channel is equal to or greater than the above maximum value.

[0050] Obviously, the increase in the inlet area for air to enter the air suction channel 14 is related to the width of the slit. The wider the slit, the larger the inlet area for air to enter the air suction channel 14 and the greater its maximum value.

[0051] The dairy product suction channel 12 has a minimum passage area large enough to ensure the dispensing of a dairy product emulsion having a weight 2% to 8%, preferably 3% to 6%, greater than the weight of the dairy product suctioned from the dairy product container 6. The additional weight of the dairy product emulsion compared to the suctioned dairy product is the weight of the condensed steam contained in the dairy product emulsion.

[0052] Specifically, the dairy product suction channel 12 has a minimum passage area large enough to ensure the dispensing of a dairy product emulsion flow having a value between 10 g / s and 15 g / s.

[0053] The dairy product inlet opening 11 is circular and has a diameter of not less than 5 mm, preferably between 5 mm and 10 mm.

[0054] The dairy product suction channel 12 has a minimum internal cross-section not less than that of the dairy product inlet opening 11.

[0055] The dispensing opening 21 of the external steam dispenser 5 is circular and has a diameter between 0.5 mm and 2 mm, preferably between 0.5 mm and 1 mm, and is lower than the outlet opening 17.

[0056] The air suction opening is circular and has a diameter between 0.2 mm and 1 mm.

[0057] As described above, the valve device 15 regulates the air passage area along the air suction channel 14.

[0058] The air inlet opening 22 in the air suction channel 14 has an equivalent diameter between 0.3 mm and 2 mm in the maximum opening configuration.

[0059] The equivalent diameter refers to the diameter of a circular area having the same size as the area of the inlet opening 22 for allowing air to enter the air suction channel 14. The outlet opening 17 is circular and has a diameter between 2 mm and 5 mm, preferably between 2 mm and 2.5 mm.

[0060] Therefore, the emulsifying device 7 by the Venturi effect can have a high milk product suction efficiency when the suctioned milk product flow rate is not less than 10 g / s.

[0061] With such sized milk product suction channel 12, when the temperature of the milk product present in the milk product container 6 is between 3 °C and 7 °C, a milk product emulsion is obtained at a temperature not higher than 25 °C.

[0062] In order to maintain the temperature at a value significantly lower than the ambient temperature, the milk product container 6 can have a heat insulation member.

[0063] The milk product emulsifying device can have interchangeable parts for dispensing a hotter milk product emulsion.

[0064] Specifically, the air regulating valve device and preferably the milk product suction channel can be interchanged.

[0065] Figure 3 and Figure 4 The air regulating valve device and the milk product suction channel shown in Figure 5 and Figure 6 The comparison with the devices shown in

[0066] also better visually clarifies the differences. Figure 5 and Figure 6 In fact, in order to produce a hotter milk product emulsion, the milk product suction channels shown in

[0067] are used, which have a lower minimum passage area, for example at the ends of the interchangeable parts, reducing the efficiency of milk product suction by the Venturi effect. Figure 5 and Figure 5 In addition, also in order to produce a hotter milk product emulsion, the valve device shown in

[0068] can be used, which provides a smaller maximum passage area for allowing air to enter the inlet opening 22 of the air suction channel 14 because the slit has a reduced width.

[0069] The method for dispensing a dairy emulsion improves the dairy suction efficiency by the Venturi effect by increasing the minimum passage area of the dairy suction channel to a value corresponding to a dairy emulsion that is 2% to 8% greater in weight than the weight of the dairy suctioned from the container, and having a dairy emulsion flow with a value between 10 g / s and 15 g / s, as compared to traditional emulsifying devices that produce a hotter dairy emulsion.

[0070] Compared to emulsifying devices of the prior art that suction dairy and air in a mixing chamber by the Venturi effect, when the temperature of the dairy present in the dairy container is between 3°C and 7°C and the steam dispensed by the external steam dispenser 5 has a temperature between 110°C and 130°C and a pressure between 0.5 atm and 2 atm, the minimum passage area of the dairy suction channel is now increased to a value corresponding to dispensing the dairy emulsion at a temperature not higher than 25°C. The coffee machine as envisaged herein is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all of which fall within the scope of the inventive concept; furthermore, all details may be replaced by technically equivalent elements.

[0071] For example, the various openings disclosed above, and those disclosed as having a circular shape for instance, may have a non-circular shape, and in such cases, the diameter is intended to be the equivalent diameter, i.e., the diameter of a circle having substantially the same non-circular opening area.

[0072] Furthermore, the scope of the claims is intended to cover dairy emulsions of animal or plant origin (such as cow's milk, soy milk, oat milk, rice milk, goat's milk, buffalo milk, sheep's milk, etc.).

[0073] In practice, the materials and dimensions used may be determined according to requirements and the prior art.

Claims

1. A dispensing method for dispensing a dairy emulsion into a cup using a coffee machine (1), the coffee machine comprising: Water tank (23); boiler (2) for generating steam; Water supply pump (3) for supplying water to the boiler (2) to generate steam; external coffee dispenser (4); external steam dispenser (5) having a steam distribution opening (21) for distributing a steam flow; dairy container (6) having an emulsifying device for emulsifying the dairy product by the Venturi effect generated by the steam flow, the emulsifying device (7) having a mixing chamber (10) for mixing dairy product / steam / air; dairy suction passage (12) by Venturi effect having a dairy product inlet opening (11) leading into the mixing chamber (10); air suction passage (14) by Venturi effect having a valve device (15) and an air inlet opening (13) leading into the mixing chamber (10), the mixing chamber (10) having a sealed detachable connection opening (16) to the external steam dispenser (5) and an outlet opening (17) of the dairy product emulsion that is aligned with the steam distribution opening (21) and connected to an external dispenser (9) of the dairy product emulsion, wherein the outlet opening (17) of the dairy product emulsion is larger than the steam distribution opening (21) for activating the Venturi effect, characterized in that a dairy product emulsion flow having a value between 10 g / s and 15 g / s is distributed by a reduced thermal energy contribution of the steam for dairy product suction, the obtained dairy product emulsion having a temperature not higher than 25 °C, the reduced thermal energy contribution corresponding to the weight of the condensed steam in the dairy product emulsion, the weight ratio of the dairy product emulsion being 2% to 8% greater than the weight of the dairy product suctioned from the dairy container (6), and the additional weight of the dairy product emulsion compared to the suctioned dairy product being the weight of the condensed steam contained in the dairy product emulsion.

2. The dispensing method for dispensing a dairy emulsion according to claim 1, characterized in that, Distribute a dairy product emulsion flow having a value between 10 g / s and 15 g / s, the obtained dairy product emulsion having a temperature not higher than 20 °C.

3. The dispensing method for dispensing a dairy emulsion according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, Fill the container (6) with dairy product having a temperature between 3 °C and 7 °C.

4. A coffee machine (1), comprising: Water tank (23); boiler (2) for generating steam; A water supply pump (3) for supplying water to the cooker (2) to generate steam; an external coffee dispenser (4); an external steam dispenser (5) having a steam distribution opening (21) for distributing a steam flow; a dairy container (6) having an emulsifying device for emulsifying dairy products by means of a Venturi effect generated by the steam flow, the emulsifying device (7) having a mixing chamber (10) for mixing dairy / steam / air; a dairy suction channel (12) having a dairy product inlet opening (11) leading into the mixing chamber (10) by means of a Venturi effect; an air suction channel (14) having a valve device (15) and an air inlet opening (13) leading into the mixing chamber (10) by means of a Venturi effect, the mixing chamber (10) having a sealed detachable connection opening (16) to the external steam dispenser (5) and an outlet opening (17) for the dairy emulsion that is aligned with the steam distribution opening (21) and connected to an external dispenser (9) of the dairy emulsion, wherein the outlet opening (17) of the dairy emulsion is larger than the steam distribution opening (21) for activating the Venturi effect, characterized in that the smallest passage area of the dairy suction channel (12) has a diameter of not less than 5 mm, the steam distribution opening (21) of the external steam dispenser (5) has a diameter between 0.5 mm and 2 mm, the outlet opening (17) has a diameter between 2 mm and 5 mm, the air inlet opening (22) in the air suction channel (14) that can be adjusted by the valve device has a diameter between 0.3 mm and 2 mm in the maximum opening configuration, and the external steam dispenser (5) is configured to distribute a steam flow between 0.8 g / s and 1.2 g / s at a steam temperature between 110 °C and 130 °C and at a steam pressure between 0.5 atm and 2 atm.

5. The coffee machine (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The smallest passage area of the dairy suction channel (12) has a diameter between 5 mm and 10 mm.

6. The coffee machine (1) according to any one of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that, The steam distribution opening (21) of the external steam dispenser (5) has a diameter between 0.5 mm and 1 mm, and the outlet opening (17) has a diameter between 2 mm and 2.5 mm.

7. The coffee machine (1) according to any one of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that, The dairy container (6) has a heat insulation member.

8. The coffee machine (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 5, characterized in that, The dairy suction channel (12) can be interchanged with a dairy suction channel having a smaller smallest passage area.

9. The coffee machine (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The valve device (15) can be interchanged with a valve device that provides an air inlet opening (22) in the air suction channel (14), the air inlet opening in the air suction channel (14) having a smaller area in the maximum opening configuration.

10. Coffee machine (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 5, wherein, A cup resting surface (8) is provided, wherein the external coffee dispenser (4) is configured and arranged for direct dispensing into a cup located on the cup resting surface (8), and wherein the external dispenser (9) of the dairy emulsion is configured and arranged for direct dispensing into the cup.

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