A milk frother with steam suction

Abstract

The present application relates to a kind of milk frother with steam milk suction, it is characterized in that: including shell, steam inlet cavity, negative pressure cavity and stirring cavity are equipped in the shell, the negative pressure cavity is located between steam inlet cavity and stirring cavity, steam spout is communicated between steam inlet cavity and negative pressure cavity, the negative pressure cavity and stirring cavity are communicated by injection channel, the air inlet and milk suction inlet that directly communicate with negative pressure cavity are equipped on the shell, steam spout and injection channel are coaxially laterally arranged, the air inlet and milk suction inlet are coaxially vertically arranged, the steam supply channel that communicates with steam inlet cavity and milk froth outflow channel that communicate with stirring cavity are equipped on the shell.It is a kind of milk frother with steam milk suction with compact structure, few parts, easy to assemble and simple milk froth preparation operation, the milk frother can make air, milk and steam three fast suction and fully mix.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a milk frothing device, and more particularly to a milk frother equipped with steam suction, which can be used with or integrated into a coffee machine. Background Technology

[0002] Adding silky, delicate milk foam to coffee enhances its flavor and texture, and also serves as a beautiful garnish. Milk foam is the product of milk and air mixing finely. Devices for producing foamed milk come in various structural forms.

[0003] One type is a device that generates foamed milk by rapidly stirring milk. It generally includes a heating device, a base, a container body mounted on the base, and a container lid. The heating device is typically located in a cavity at the bottom of the base. The container body is separable from the base, and a stirring head is located inside the container. The stirring head contains a driven magnet. A drive device for driving the stirring head is installed inside the base. The drive device includes a drive motor, and a drive magnet matching the driven magnet is mounted on the output shaft of the drive motor. An example is the Chinese utility model patent ZL201120381977.4 (publication number CN202287940U), entitled "A Milk Frothing Device with Adjustable Milk-to-Foam Ratio." This type of milk frothing device involves many components, has a complex structure, is bulky, and is costly. Furthermore, it is inconvenient to use with or integrate into a coffee machine.

[0004] Another method involves directly filling a cup with cold milk and using a steam wand nozzle directly connected to a steam pipe to create foamed milk. For example, the Chinese utility model patent "A Milk Frothing Device" (patent number ZL200920009905.X, publication number CN201444867U) discloses such a device. This type of steam wand nozzle only has a few nozzle holes at the end, and the seal between the steam pipe and the nozzle is weak, resulting in limited steam intensity. It requires experience and skill, such as shaking the milk cup, tilting the cup to increase the contact area between the milk and air, and adjusting the contact depth between the nozzle and the milk, to produce good quality foam. In other words, obtaining good foamed milk depends heavily on the operator's skill and cannot be generalized. Those who demand high-quality foam generally believe that regardless of the operator's experience or skill, the foam produced by the existing nozzle is insufficient in terms of expansion, foaming degree, density, and smooth texture.

[0005] In response to this situation, some people have invented easy-to-use, foolproof milk foaming devices, such as the Chinese utility model patent "Automatic Milk Foamer" with patent number ZL200820003777.3 (publication number CN201243958Y) and the Chinese invention patent "A Foaming Steam Rod" with patent number ZL201410244162.X (authorization publication number CN104068751B). They all have a common feature: they have many parts, long pipes, which is not conducive to cleaning coffee machines with hot water, and they cannot control the amount of air entering the machine.

[0006] In conclusion, the current mechanisms and devices still require further improvement and innovation. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a milk frother with a compact structure, few parts, easy assembly and simple operation for preparing milk foam, which can quickly draw in air, milk and steam and mix them thoroughly.

[0008] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the above-mentioned technical problems is as follows: a milk frother with steam suction, characterized in that: it includes a shell, the shell having a steam inlet chamber, a negative pressure chamber and a stirring chamber, the negative pressure chamber being located between the steam inlet chamber and the stirring chamber, the steam inlet chamber and the negative pressure chamber being connected through a steam nozzle, the negative pressure chamber and the stirring chamber being connected through an ejector channel, the shell having an air inlet and a milk inlet directly connected to the negative pressure chamber, the steam nozzle and the ejector channel being coaxially arranged horizontally, the air inlet and the milk inlet being coaxially arranged vertically, and the shell having a steam supply channel connected to the steam inlet chamber and a milk foam outflow channel connected to the stirring chamber.

[0009] To further enhance the ejection effect and make further improvements, the ejection channel has a constricted section that is narrowed along the flow direction of the fluid, and the constricted section is close to the negative pressure chamber.

[0010] In a further improvement, the aforementioned mixing chamber has a flared, funnel-shaped section near the ejector channel, with the outlet of the ejector channel located at the beginning of the funnel-shaped section. After the mixture of milk, air, and steam passes through the outlet of the ejector channel, it suddenly diffuses at the funnel-shaped section, allowing the mixture to swirl and collide within the mixing chamber, better forming a vortex. During the rotation of the mixture, the steam, milk, and air within the mixing chamber are further thoroughly and uniformly mixed, forming fine milk foam. The un-emulsified mixture has a high density and centrifugal force, causing it to adhere to the wall and continue rotating for further mixing and emulsification. The well-emulsified mixture has a low density and low centrifugal force, decelerating quickly and flowing out of the milk foam outlet channel before the un-emulsified mixture. Finally, the fully emulsified milk with foam, under pressure, flows out along the milk foam outlet channel after its speed decreases.

[0011] Further improvements include an air intake channel at the upper end of the outer casing, with a tapered adjustment section at the bottom of the channel that is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom. The air inlet is located at the bottom of the adjustment section. A silicone air intake adjustment cap is fitted tightly onto the air intake channel. Inside the air intake adjustment cap is an adjustment post that extends downwards into the air intake channel. The end of the adjustment post is spherical or conical. Pressing the air intake adjustment cap moves the adjustment post up and down relative to the air inlet, changing the air intake gap between the adjustment section and the end of the adjustment post. Pressing the air intake adjustment cap adjusts the air intake volume; pressing down reduces the air intake volume, and releasing it restores the air intake volume, thus enabling manual adjustment of the milk foam's fineness.

[0012] Preferably, the air intake channel has a vertical, through-the-top air intake groove on its peripheral wall, which connects the air intake channel to the outside. The air intake groove has a small diameter to ensure that only air can enter while larger impurities cannot.

[0013] To facilitate the connection of the steam pipe and the drain pipe, the outer shell has an outwardly protruding steam connector and a liquid outlet connector. The steam supply channel is located inside the steam connector, and the milk foam outflow channel is located inside the liquid outlet connector.

[0014] As an improvement, a detachable straw is inserted into the milk inlet, and the straw and milk inlet are sealed together. The detachable straw connection makes it easy to remove and clean, preventing residual milk from molding and making it safer to use.

[0015] Preferably, the upper outer periphery of the straw has an annular shoulder that abuts against the bottom surface of the milk inlet when the straw is inserted into it. The annular shoulder indicates whether the straw is properly inserted.

[0016] In a further improvement, the aforementioned outer shell comprises an upper shell and a lower shell that are fixed together. Both the upper and lower shells have concave cavities. A partition wall is located within the concave cavity of the lower shell, and the steam nozzle is situated on this partition wall. The top surface of the lower shell has a sealing rib that protrudes upwards around the concave cavity and at the top of the partition wall. The bottom surface of the upper shell has a sealing groove into which the sealing rib is embedded. When the upper and lower shells are fixed together, the sealing rib is embedded in the sealing groove to form a sealing fit. This structure facilitates molding and assembly, and the sealing rib embedded in the sealing groove ensures a tight seal at the connection between the upper and lower shells.

[0017] Preferably, the air inlet and steam supply channel are located in the upper shell, and the milk inlet and milk foam outlet are located in the lower shell.

[0018] Compared with existing technologies, the advantages of this invention are as follows: the steam nozzle is designed to further enhance steam pressure; the steam nozzle and the ejector channel are coaxially and laterally arranged, allowing steam to quickly and directly pass through the ejector channel, resulting in a strong negative pressure and siphon effect rapidly generated around the negative pressure chamber. Under the action of negative pressure and siphon, the steam nozzle, air inlet, milk inlet, and ejector channel are all directly connected to the negative pressure chamber. The negative pressure within the chamber quickly draws in steam, air, and milk, which are then rapidly carried into the mixing chamber through the ejector channel. As they pass through the ejector channel, the milk, air, and steam mix. Upon entering the mixing chamber, the mixed milk impacts the chamber, creating a vortex, and finally flows out through the milk foam outlet channel, thus completing the milk foam making process. The various nozzles, inlets, and chambers of this milk frother are all close to each other, resulting in a very compact structure. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a perspective sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Enlarged view of point A;

[0022] Figure 4 This is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0024] like Figures 1-4 The image shown is the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] A milk frother with steam suction includes a housing 1. The housing 1 contains a steam inlet chamber 1a, a negative pressure chamber 1b, and a stirring chamber 1c. The negative pressure chamber 1b is located between the steam inlet chamber 1a and the stirring chamber 1c. The steam inlet chamber 1a and the negative pressure chamber 1b are connected by a steam nozzle 2, which is a small channel. The negative pressure chamber 1b and the stirring chamber 1c are connected by an ejector channel 3. The housing 1 has an air inlet 4 and a milk inlet 5 that are directly connected to the negative pressure chamber 1b. The steam nozzle 2 and the ejector channel 3 are arranged coaxially and horizontally. The air inlet 4 and the milk inlet 5 are arranged coaxially and vertically. The housing 1 has a steam supply channel 6 that is connected to the steam inlet chamber 1a and a milk foam outflow channel 7 that is connected to the stirring chamber 1c.

[0026] The ejector channel 3 has a constricted section 31 that narrows along the flow direction of the fluid, and the constricted section 31 is close to the negative pressure chamber 1b. The stirring chamber 1c has a flared section 1c1 that widens along the flow direction of the fluid near the ejector channel 3, and the outlet of the ejector channel 3 is located at the beginning of the flared section 1c1.

[0027] The upper end of the outer casing 1 has an air intake channel 8. The bottom of the air intake channel 8 is a tapered adjustment section 81 that is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom. The air inlet 4 is located at the bottom of the adjustment section 81. An air intake adjustment cap 9 made of silicone material is tightly fitted onto the air intake channel 8. The interior of the air intake adjustment cap 9 has an adjustment column 91 that extends downward and into the air intake channel 8. The end of the adjustment column 91 is spherical or conical. Pressing the air intake adjustment cap 9 can move the adjustment column 91 up and down relative to the air inlet 4, changing the air intake gap between the end of the adjustment section 81 and the end of the adjustment column 91. The peripheral wall of the air intake channel 8 has a vertical air intake groove 82 that extends through the top. The air intake groove 82 connects the air intake channel 8 to the outside.

[0028] The outer casing 1 has an outwardly protruding steam connector 111 and a liquid outlet connector 121. The steam supply channel 6 is located inside the steam connector 111, and the milk foam outflow channel 7 is located inside the liquid outlet connector 121.

[0029] A detachable straw 10 is inserted into the milk inlet 5, and the straw 10 is sealed to the milk inlet 5. The upper outer periphery of the straw 10 has an annular shoulder 101, which abuts against the bottom surface of the milk inlet 5 when the straw 10 is inserted into the milk inlet 5.

[0030] The outer shell 1 consists of an upper shell 11 and a lower shell 12 that are fixed together. Both the upper shell 11 and the lower shell 12 have concave cavities. A partition wall 122 is located within the concave cavity of the lower shell 12, and a steam nozzle 2 is disposed on this partition wall 122. A sealing rib 123 protrudes upwards around the concave cavity and at the top of the partition wall 122 on the top surface of the lower shell 12. A sealing groove 112 is provided on the bottom surface of the upper shell 11 for the sealing rib 123 to be embedded within. When the upper shell 11 and the lower shell 12 are fixed together, the sealing rib 123 is embedded in the sealing groove 112 to form a sealing fit. An air inlet 4 and a steam supply channel 6 are located on the upper shell 11, while a milk inlet 5 and a milk foam outlet channel 7 are located on the lower shell 12.

[0031] The working principle and process of this milk frother are as follows:

[0032] Steam enters the steam inlet chamber 1a from the steam supply channel 6, and is then pressurized and ejected at high pressure through the steam nozzle 2. The steam nozzle 2 and the ejector channel 3 are coaxially and laterally arranged. The high-pressure steam quickly passes through the ejector channel 3, causing a strong negative pressure and siphon effect to be rapidly generated around the inside of the negative pressure chamber 1b. Under the action of negative pressure and siphon, and because the steam nozzle 2, air inlet 4, milk inlet 5, and ejector channel 3 are all directly connected to the negative pressure chamber 1b, the negative pressure in the negative pressure chamber 1b can quickly draw in steam, air, and milk, and quickly carry them into the stirring chamber 1c through the ejector channel 3. The mixture of milk, air, and steam passes through the outlet of the ejector channel 3 and then... The sudden expansion of the funnel-shaped section 1c1 allows the mixed fluid to swirl and collide along the funnel-shaped section 1c1, better forming a vortex within the mixing chamber 1c. During the rotation of the mixture, the steam, milk, and air within the mixing chamber 1c are further fully and evenly mixed, thus forming fine milk foam. The un-emulsified mixture has a high density and centrifugal force, so it will continue to rotate and re-mix and emulsify along the wall. The well-emulsified mixture has a low density and low centrifugal force, decelerates quickly, and flows out of the milk foam outlet channel 7 before the un-emulsified mixture. Finally, the emulsified milk with milk foam, under pressure, will flow out along the milk foam outlet channel 7 after its speed decreases.

[0033] It should be noted that in the description of this embodiment, the terms "front," "rear," "left," "right," "inner," "outer," "upper," and "lower," etc., indicating directions or positional relationships, are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. They are merely for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model. The terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal connection of two components. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

Claims

1. A milk frother with steam suction function, characterized in that: The device includes a housing (1), which contains a steam inlet chamber (1a), a negative pressure chamber (1b), and a stirring chamber (1c). The negative pressure chamber (1b) is located between the steam inlet chamber (1a) and the stirring chamber (1c). The steam inlet chamber (1a) and the negative pressure chamber (1b) are connected by a steam nozzle (2), and the negative pressure chamber (1b) and the stirring chamber (1c) are connected by an ejector channel (3). The housing (1) has an air inlet (4) and a milk intake (5) that are directly connected to the negative pressure chamber (1b). The steam nozzle (2) and the ejector channel (3) are coaxially and laterally arranged. The inlet (4) and the milk inlet (5) are arranged vertically on the same axis. The outer shell (1) is provided with a steam supply channel (6) communicating with the steam inlet chamber (1a) and a milk foam outlet channel (7) communicating with the stirring chamber (1c). The ejector channel (3) has a constricted section (31) that is narrowed along the flow direction of the fluid. The constricted section (31) is close to the negative pressure chamber (1b). The stirring chamber (1c) has a flared section (1c1) that is widened along the flow direction of the fluid near the ejector channel (3). The outlet of the ejector channel (3) is located at the beginning of the flared section (1c1).

2. The milk frother with steam suction as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The upper end of the outer shell (1) has an air intake channel (8), and the bottom of the air intake channel (8) is a cone-shaped adjustment section (81) that is larger at the top and smaller at the bottom. The air inlet (4) is located at the bottom of the adjustment section (81). An air intake adjustment cap (9) made of silicone material is tightly fitted on the air intake channel (8). The interior of the air intake adjustment cap (9) has an adjustment column (91) that extends downward and into the air intake channel (8). The end of the adjustment column (91) is spherical or conical. Pressing the air intake adjustment cap (9) can drive the adjustment column (91) to move up and down relative to the air inlet (4), changing the air intake gap between the end of the adjustment section (81) and the adjustment column (91).

3. The milk frother with steam suction as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The air intake channel (8) has a vertical air intake groove (82) on its peripheral wall that extends through the top. The air intake groove (82) connects the air intake channel (8) to the outside.

4. The milk frother with steam suction as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The outer shell (1) has a protruding steam connector (111) and a liquid outlet connector (121). The steam supply channel (6) is located inside the steam connector (111), and the milk foam outlet channel (7) is located inside the liquid outlet connector (121).

5. The milk frother with steam suction according to claim 1, characterized in that: A straw (10) is detachably inserted into the milk inlet (5), and the straw (10) and the milk inlet (5) are sealed together.

6. The milk frother with steam suction according to claim 5, characterized in that: The upper outer periphery of the straw (10) has an annular shoulder (101), which abuts against the bottom surface of the milk inlet (5) when the straw (10) is inserted into the milk inlet (5).

7. The milk frother with steam suction according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer shell (1) consists of an upper shell (11) and a lower shell (12) that are fixed together. The upper shell (11) and the lower shell (12) have concave cavities. The concave cavity of the lower shell (12) has a partition wall (122). The steam nozzle (2) is located on the partition wall (122). The top surface of the lower shell (12) is provided with a sealing rib (123) that protrudes upward around the concave cavity and at the top of the partition wall (122). The bottom surface of the upper shell (11) is provided with a sealing groove (112) for the sealing rib (123) to be embedded therein. When the upper shell (11) and the lower shell (12) are fixed together, the sealing rib (123) is embedded in the sealing groove (112) to form a sealing fit.

8. The milk frother with steam suction according to claim 7, characterized in that: The air inlet (4) and steam supply channel (6) are located on the upper shell (11), and the milk inlet (5) and milk foam outlet channel (7) are located on the lower shell (12).

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