Dispensing nozzles for milk modules used to produce hot or cold foamed or non-foamed milk.

Abstract

A milk module (3) for producing hot or cold foamed or non-foamed milk, which can be integrated into a machine (1) for producing milk-based beverages. The milk module (3) includes: a supply pump (10); a suction line (9) extending from a fluid inlet to the suction side of the supply pump (10); a delivery line (15) extending from the delivery side of the supply pump (10) to a dispensing nozzle (16) having an inlet portion (34A, 34B) and a dispensing outlet (39); an electronic control unit (32) configured to operate the milk module (3) in a production mode and a washing mode, supplying milk to the suction line (9) in the production mode and supplying water or water and detergent to the suction line (9) in the washing mode; and a discharge line (28) for discharging washing water into a waste container (24) during operation in the washing mode. The discharge line (28) extends from the dispensing nozzle (16) to the waste container (24) and includes a suction pump (29). An electronic control unit (32) is configured to operate the suction pump (29) during at least a portion of the washing mode to allow the washing water that has reached the dispensing nozzle (16) to flow into the discharge line (28) and then to the dispensing outlet (39) of the dispensing nozzle (16).

Description

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications

[0002] This patent application claims priority to Italian patent application 102020000030392, filed on December 10, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This invention relates to a dispensing nozzle for a milk module used to produce hot or cold foamed or non-foamed milk, and that the milk module can be integrated into a machine for producing milk-based beverages. In particular, the invention has found advantageous applications in benchtop machines for producing milk-based beverages, which will be referred to in the description without loss of generality. Background Technology

[0004] As is well known, in the aforementioned beverage production machines, the milk module typically includes a washing circuit designed to periodically clean all components of the milk module that come into contact with milk during use and may thus be subject to bacterial growth. Typically, the milk module undergoes a water rinse at the end of each milk-based beverage production cycle, and when the beverage production machine is not in operation, usually at the end of the workday, the milk module undergoes a more thorough washing process with water and detergent.

[0005] Known milk modules typically include a milk line, a foaming device, a heating device, and a dispensing nozzle. The milk line is equipped with a pump for drawing fresh milk from a milk container, and hot or cold foamed or non-foamed milk is delivered to a cup or similar container through the dispensing nozzle.

[0006] During rinsing and washing, a given amount of water or water and detergent is allowed to flow along the milk line and is typically discharged into a waste container via a valve.

[0007] In benchtop machines used for producing milk-based beverages, the milk dispensing nozzle is typically fixed within the beverage dispensing compartment, thus generally preventing wash liquid from flowing upwards to the nozzle. The wash liquid is discharged towards the waste container at a point on the milk line located upstream of and at a given distance from the nozzle. Therefore, the end of the milk line, or at least the beverage dispensing nozzle, is never involved in the washing process and requires manual cleaning intervention by the operator, who typically removes the nozzle and washes it separately. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The purpose of this invention is to provide a dispensing nozzle for a milk module for producing hot or cold foamed or non-foamed milk, which can be integrated into a machine for producing milk-based beverages. Compared to known milk modules, the dispensing nozzle allows for efficient cleaning of the dispensing nozzle and the components of the milk module located upstream of the dispensing nozzle that come into contact with milk during use.

[0009] According to the present invention, a dispensing nozzle is provided for a milk module for producing hot or cold foamed or non-foamed milk, and the milk module can be integrated into a machine for producing milk-based beverages, as claimed in the appended claims.

[0010] According to the present invention, a milk module for producing hot or cold foamed or non-foamed milk and a machine for producing milk-based beverages are also provided, as claimed in the appended claims. Attached Figure Description

[0011] Figure 1 The hydraulic circuit of a preferred embodiment of a machine for producing milk-based beverages according to the present invention is shown.

[0012] Figure 2 and Figure 3 Shown in perspective Figure 1 Details of the machine shown are for producing milk-based beverages.

[0013] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 and Figure 3 The bottom cross-sectional view shows the details. Detailed Implementation

[0014] The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings to enable those skilled in the art to implement and use it. Various modifications to the presented embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles disclosed herein can be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the scope of protection of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Therefore, the invention should not be considered limited to the described and illustrated embodiments, but should be granted the widest possible scope of protection based on the described and claimed features.

[0015] Unless otherwise specified, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly used by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. In case of conflict, this description (including the definitions provided) shall be binding. Moreover, these embodiments are provided for illustrative purposes only and should therefore not be considered restrictive.

[0016] To facilitate understanding of the embodiments described herein, reference will be made to specific embodiments, and specific language will be used to describe them. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0017] Figure 1 A machine 1 for producing milk-based beverages is schematically shown, and the machine includes: a brewing unit 2 for producing beverages such as espresso and other beverages from soluble products; and a milk module 3 for producing hot or cold foamed or non-foamed milk.

[0018] The brewing unit 2 includes several conventional functional components, and therefore will not be described in detail. Typically, the brewing unit 2 includes a brewer (not shown) for producing espresso, one or more mixers (not shown) for producing a beverage from a soluble product, a heater 4 for producing hot water or steam, and a pump (not shown) for supplying the brewer and mixer with the hot water required to produce the beverage.

[0019] The machine 1 also includes a beverage dispensing compartment 5 in which a set of dispensing nozzles 6 are arranged. The set of dispensing nozzles are fluidly connected to the brewing unit 2 via corresponding supply lines 7 to receive the beverage produced by the brewing unit 2 in use and dispense the beverage into cups or similar containers (not shown) on the cup holder grid in the beverage dispensing compartment 5.

[0020] Milk module 3 is selectively fluidly connected to brewing unit 2, or more precisely to heater 4, to receive steam and hot water to be used during operation to heat the milk separately, as explained in more detail below, and to clean those parts of milk module 3 that come into contact with milk during use and therefore require regular cleaning to prevent bacterial growth.

[0021] Figure 1 The hydraulic circuit of milk module 3 is schematically shown, the milk module comprising:

[0022] Milk container 8, which is preferably arranged in a refrigeration area to maintain the milk at a temperature range of 3° to 5°;

[0023] The suction line 9 has a first end immersed in the milk container 8 and a second end fluidly connected to the suction side of the pump 10 (preferably a gear pump), and the inflow of milk into the suction line 9 is controlled by a shut-off valve 11.

[0024] Air line 12, through which ambient air is introduced into suction line 9 at a T-joint 13 located upstream of pump 10. The inflow of air into air line 12 is controlled by valve 14, which allows or inhibits the airflow into air line 12 depending on whether foamed or non-foamed milk must be produced separately. Conveniently, valve 14 is a proportional solenoid valve, which allows adjustment of the airflow rate according to closed-loop or open-loop control algorithms, as is well known in the art; and

[0025] Delivery line 15 is designed to deliver milk or a milk and air mixture from pump 10 to milk dispensing nozzle 16, which is arranged in beverage dispensing compartment 5 and is part of the set of dispensing nozzles 6.

[0026] The delivery line 15 has a flow restrictor 17 downstream of the pump 10, which limits a concentrated reduction in the cross-section of the delivery line 15 so that the milk and air mixture flowing through it undergoes rapid compression and subsequent rapid expansion during use, which is based on principles well known to those skilled in the art to transform the milk and air mixture into foamed milk.

[0027] The flow restrictor 17 can be formed by a non-adjustable nozzle, baffle, or throttle valve, which can be adjustable or non-adjustable.

[0028] Downstream of the flow restrictor 17, the delivery line 15 has a fork 18 from which two parallel pipes branch off and both lead into the milk dispensing nozzle 16. One of these two pipes (hereinafter referred to as 15A) supplies hot milk, either foamed or non-foamed, to the milk dispensing nozzle 16, while the other of these two pipes (hereinafter referred to as 15B) supplies cold milk, either foamed or non-foamed, to the milk dispensing nozzle 16.

[0029] The milk or foamed milk flowing in pipe 15A is heated by heater 19, according to... Figure 1 In the preferred embodiment shown, the heater is in the form of a heat exchanger, wherein the milk or foamed milk is indirectly heated by a steam flow supplied to a cylindrical pipe that is wound around a spiral portion of pipe 15A.

[0030] The steam flow supplied to heater 19 is generated by heater 4 of brewing unit 2 and delivered to heater 19 through steam line 20. The first end of the steam line is fluidly connected to hot water / steam supply pipe 21 via three-way valve 22. The hot water / steam supply pipe is then directly or indirectly connected to the outlet of heater 4, and the second end of the steam line is fluidly connected to the inlet of spiral pipe of heater 19 to supply steam flow to the heater.

[0031] On the opposite side, the spiral conduit of heater 19 has an outlet that is fluidly connected to discharge line 23, which is designed to connect to waste container 24. Condensate is formed during operation by the cooling of steam along the spiral conduit.

[0032] Preferably, no shut-off valve is provided along the pipe 15A, and therefore, the delivery line 15 is always in fluid communication with the milk dispensing nozzle 16, regardless of whether steam is supplied to the heater 19.

[0033] Alternatively, a shut-off valve 25 is provided along pipe 15B, which can be operated to allow or prevent the flow of foamed or non-foamed cold milk along pipe 15B, depending on the type of beverage to be produced, as described in more detail below.

[0034] Milk module 3 also includes a washing circuit that has the function of washing the pipes in which milk flows through milk module 3 by simply rinsing with water at the end of each milk-based beverage production cycle or after milk module 3 has not been used for a given amount of time, and by washing it more thoroughly with detergent, which is typically performed when machine 1 is shut down (e.g., at the end of the day).

[0035] The washing circuit includes a hot water supply line 26 to supply a flow of hot water from the heater 4 to the suction line 9. The hot water supply line 26 has an inlet coupled to the outlet of a three-way valve 22 to selectively communicate with the hot water / steam supply line 21 and receive hot water from the heater 4. The supply line 26 enters the suction line 9 at a T-joint 27 between the shut-off valve 11 and the T-joint 13, wherein an air line 12 enters the suction line 9.

[0036] The washing circuit also includes a discharge line 28 which has the function of conveying the hot water for rinsing or the mixture of water and detergent flowing in the delivery line 15 (i.e., from the outlets of pipes 15A and 15B) to the waste container 24 to prevent it from reaching the outlet of the milk dispensing nozzle 16.

[0037] Conveniently, the discharge line 28 can be activated during rinsing and washing operations to draw hot water or a mixture of water and detergent flowing along the suction line 9 and the delivery line 15, and to draw water retained along the suction line 9 and the delivery line 15 after each rinsing at the start of each milk-based beverage production cycle.

[0038] according to Figure 1 In the preferred embodiment shown, the discharge line 28 has a first end that is fluidly connected upstream of its outlet to the milk dispensing nozzle 16 and a second end that leads into the waste container 24, and includes a pump 29 and a shut-off valve 30 disposed on the suction side of the pump 29 and having the function of fluidly isolating the milk dispensing nozzle 16 from the waste container 24 when the pump is turned off.

[0039] Optionally, if the pump 29 is designed to fluidly seal the suction side from the delivery side when it is shut off, the shut-off valve 30 may be omitted.

[0040] The operation of milk module 3 will be described below with reference to three different operating steps:

[0041] 1) Producing hot or cold foamed or non-foamed milk;

[0042] 2) Rinse with hot water at the end of the milk-based beverage production cycle;

[0043] 3) Wash with detergent when the machine is not in use.

[0044] 1) Producing hot or cold foamed or non-foamed milk

[0045] In response to the selection of a milk-based beverage, the electronic control unit 32 of machine 1 operates pump 10 to draw a given amount of milk from milk container 8 and supply it to delivery line 15. If frothing milk is required, electronic control unit 32 opens valve 14 to allow a given amount of air to flow into air line 12 and be drawn into the milk flowing along suction line 9. Pump 10 is then operated to allow the milk and air mixture to flow through flow restrictor 17 to transform it into frothing milk in a cooled state.

[0046] If hot milk, whether foamed or not, is required, the electronic control unit 32 closes the shut-off valve 25 along pipe 15B to prevent milk from flowing along it, and the electronic control unit 32 operates the heater 4 of the brewing unit 2 to generate steam and supply it to the hot water / steam supply pipe 21. Simultaneously, the three-way valve 22 is controlled to supply steam generated by the heater 4 to the heater 19 to heat the foamed or non-foamed milk flowing along pipe 15B.

[0047] If foamed or non-foamed cold milk is required, the shut-off valve 25 of pipe 15B is opened to allow milk to flow through it, while the three-way valve 22 is controlled to prevent steam supply to the heater 19. In this way, foamed or non-foamed cold milk flows through pipes 15A and 15B to the milk dispensing nozzle 16.

[0048] It is worth noting that if cold milk needs to be produced immediately after hot milk is produced by milk module 3, heater 19 (even if it is not supplied with steam) retains some residual heat, which heats the cold milk flowing along pipe 15A to a lesser extent. However, this heating does not adversely affect the final temperature of the dispensed cold milk because the amount of cold milk flowing along pipe 15B is greater than that flowing along pipe 15A, and the lower temperature of the cold milk along pipe 15B mitigates the temperature rise of the milk flowing along pipe 15A. When shut-off valve 25 is open, the larger milk flow in pipe 15B compared to pipe 15A originates from heater 19, which, due to its own construction, limits a hydraulic resistance that partially counteracts the flow of milk along pipe 15A, thus making pipe 15B the preferred path for milk downstream of branch 18.

[0049] 2) Rinse with hot water

[0050] At the end of the milk-based beverage production cycle, the milk module 3 is subjected to a hot water rinse to remove milk residue present along the suction line 9 and delivery line 15 and in the various operating components distributed along them.

[0051] Hot water for rinsing is generated by heater 4 and supplied to water / steam supply line 21.

[0052] During rinsing, the electronic control unit 32: closes the shut-off valve 11 to fluidly isolate the milk container 8, opens the shut-off valve 25 to allow milk to flow along the pipe 15B, and closes the valve 14 at the inlet of the air line 12.

[0053] At the same time, the three-way valve 22 is controlled to allow water to flow from the water / steam supply line 21 to the hot water supply line 26, and the pump 10 is operated to allow hot water to flow from the suction line 9 to the delivery line 15 and through the two pipes 15A and 15B to the milk dispensing nozzle 16.

[0054] Pump 29 is operated to prevent hot water from reaching the outlet of milk dispensing nozzle 16 as soon as it enters it. In fact, hot water is drawn by pump 29 directly upstream of the outlet of dispensing nozzle 16 and delivered to waste container 24 via discharge line 28. Shut-off valve 30 is visibly open during this step. After a given amount of time (during which a predetermined amount of hot water flows along suction line 9 and delivery line 15), the hot water supply is interrupted, pump 29 is stopped, and shut-off valve 30 is closed.

[0055] It is worth noting that during the suction generated by pump 29, the water flowing from pipes 15A and 15B is essentially completely discharged, meaning that even a portion of the water does not reach the outlet of the milk dispensing nozzle 16. This is likely due to the combined effect of the suction force and the position of the inlet of the discharge line 28 relative to the outlets of pipes 15A and 15B and the outlet of the milk dispensing nozzle 16. For this purpose, the milk dispensing nozzles 16 can have different configurations, provided they are designed such that for water from pipes 15A and 15B, the inlet of the discharge line 28 is the preferred path compared to the outlet of the milk dispensing nozzle 16. A preferred embodiment of the milk dispensing nozzle 16 is described in... Figures 2 to 4 As shown in the figure, and will be described in more detail below.

[0056] At the end of the rinsing process, the suction line 9 and delivery line 15 remain full of water, and water is drawn from the pump 29 for a predetermined amount of time at the start of the subsequent milk production cycle. This predetermined amount of time is calculated based on the volume of water to be drawn. Preferably, at the start of a new milk production cycle, the pump 29 operates for at least a sufficient period of time to draw water contained in a portion of the circuit upstream of the milk dispensing nozzle 16. A new beverage production cycle can begin when the pump 29 stops and the shut-off valve 30 closes.

[0057] Preferably, as previously described, the rinsing is performed after each milk-based beverage production cycle and after a predetermined period of inactivity in milk module 3. According to an alternative operating mode, rinsing is not performed after each milk-based beverage production cycle, but only when a given time (e.g., several minutes) has elapsed since the last milk-based beverage dispensing. This operating mode has the advantage of optimizing cycle time in case the production times of two or more beverages are very close.

[0058] 3) Wash with detergent

[0059] As mentioned above, when machine 1 is not in operation, this deep wash is typically performed periodically at the end of the workday.

[0060] This deep washing includes the following three sub-steps:

[0061] i. The inlet of the suction line 9 is typically manually drawn from the milk container 8 by the operator and inserted into another container (not shown) containing detergent (preferably in the form of tablets or concentrated liquid). The electronic control unit 32 is configured during this step to open the shut-off valve 11 between the container containing detergent and the T-joint 27, close the valve 14 of the air line 12, and deactivate the pump 10, thereby separating the suction line 9 from the delivery line 15. The three-way valve 22 is controlled to allow hot water to flow from the water / steam supply line 21 to the hot water supply line 26 to reach and fill the container containing detergent via the suction line 9, thus forming a water-detergent mixture.

[0062] ii. Once the container is filled with hot water, the hot water supply is interrupted and pump 10 is operated to extract the mixture of water and detergent from the container and allow it to flow along suction line 9 and the two pipes 15A and 15B along delivery line 15. Simultaneously with the use of pump 10, pump 29 is also operated to suction the detergent mixture and transfer it through discharge line 28 to waste container 24.

[0063] iii. Once the container is empty, rinse it at least once with clean hot water. To this end, repeat sub-steps i and ii in sequence, the only difference being that no detergent is added to the container. If necessary, repeat sub-steps i and ii until no trace amounts of detergent are detected in the rinse water. For this purpose, a conductivity sensor 31 can be used, which is preferably arranged near the inlet of the suction line 9. At the end of rinsing, place the inlet of the suction line 9 back into the milk container 8, and the milk module 3 is ready for a new production cycle.

[0064] Conveniently, during the washing with detergent and rinsing with hot water, the pump 29 stops for a few moments and then resumes operation, so that during the moments when the pump is not operating, a small amount of water flows through the outlet of the milk dispensing nozzle 16 to remove any milk residue that may be present between the inlet of the discharge line 28 and the outlet of the milk dispensing nozzle 16.

[0065] Finally, before washing with detergent, it is preferable to allow a small amount of hot or cold water to flow along the suction line 9 and the delivery line 15, and then be drawn into the area of ​​the milk dispensing nozzle 16, in order to reduce the amount of residual milk present in the circuit.

[0066] In view of the above, the advantages arising from the pump 29 arranged on the discharge line 28 to draw in wastewater can be recognized. By doing so, indeed, all parts that come into contact with milk (including the entire delivery line 15 and a portion of the milk dispensing nozzle 16) can be cleaned without allowing wastewater to flow in the beverage dispensing compartment 5.

[0067] Figure 2 The milk dispensing nozzle 16 is illustrated by example. The geometry of the milk dispensing nozzle, combined with the suction effect of the pump 29, is particularly advantageous in achieving the aforementioned benefits.

[0068] Specifically, Figure 2 The milk dispensing nozzle 16 shown includes a collector body 33, which has:

[0069] Two inlet hose connectors 34A and 34B are provided, and the outlet ends of pipes 15A and 15B are coupled to these two inlet hose connectors respectively.

[0070] The outlet hose connector 35 is coupled to the inlet end of the discharge line 28; and

[0071] Milk flowing into the collector body 33 through the dispensing pipe 36, via pipes 15A and 15B, is dispensed into glasses in the beverage dispensing compartment 5.

[0072] like Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, inlet hose connectors 34A and 34B and outlet hose connector 35 are arranged on opposite sides of the collector body 33 and have their respective parallel axes located in the same plane. Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 In the preferred embodiment shown, the plane in which it is located is substantially horizontal during use. However, in an alternative embodiment (not shown), the plane in which it is located may be oriented differently; in particular, it may be arranged such that the inlet hose connectors 34A and 34B are positioned at a higher level than the outlet hose connector 35.

[0073] Collector body 33 defines an inner chamber 37 which has a funnel shape in a horizontal cross section and communicates with two inlet hose connectors 34A and 34B in a larger region of its cross section and with an outlet hose connector 35 in a narrower region of its cross section.

[0074] The dispensing conduit 36 ​​extends from the top of the collector body 33 and communicates with the chamber 37 through a hole 38 formed in the upper wall of the collector body 33, and the axis of the hole is substantially perpendicular to the plane in which the axes of the inlet hose connectors 34A and 34B and the outlet hose connector 35 are located.

[0075] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the dispensing pipe 36 extends in a vertical plane and includes a proximal inverted U-shaped portion and a distal straight portion ending at the milk outlet 39.

[0076] The specific shape of the collector body 33, and the relative positions of the inlet hose connectors 34A and 34B, the outlet hose connector 35, and the distribution pipe 36, during washing (when the shut-off valve 30 is open and the pump 29 is operating), make the discharge line 28 represent the preferred path for water from pipes 15A and 15B to reach chamber 37. In fact, because the outlet hose connector 35 is substantially oriented towards the inlet hose connectors 34A and 34B in the direction of flow into chamber 37 via the inlet hose connectors 34A and 34B, the water flowing into chamber 37 flows in the same direction and thus into the outlet hose connector 35, rather than being deflected 90° and flowing into the distribution pipe 36. In addition to the position of the orifice 38, the inverted U-shape of the proximal portion of the distribution pipe 36 also helps to make the water in the distribution pipe 36 flow less easily than in the outlet hose connector 35.

[0077] The combined effect of the geometry of the milk dispensing nozzle 16 and the suction force generated by the pump 29 results in complete convergence of the water flow toward the discharge line 28 and prevents (even in very small amounts) water from reaching the milk outlet 39.

[0078] Preferably, pipes 15A and 15B and discharge line 28 are formed of flexible hoses, and inlet hose connectors 34A and 34B and outlet hose connector 35 are hose male quick connectors, wherein the ends of pipes 15A and 15B and the inlet end of discharge line 28 are coupled by pressing.

[0079] Furthermore, the collector body 33 is preferably formed of two housings, which are molded from plastic material and coupled to each other by ultrasonic welding.

[0080] In an alternative embodiment (not shown), pipes 15A and 15B converge in a common end section before the milk dispensing nozzle 16 is engaged, and thus the milk dispensing nozzle has a single inlet hose connector connected to the end section.

Claims

1. Dispensing nozzle (16) for a milk module (3) for producing hot or cold foamed or smooth milk, which milk module can be integrated in a machine for producing milk-based beverages (1); the dispensing nozzle (16) comprises a collector body (33) having an inner chamber (37) and comprising at least one inlet connector (34A; 34B), an outlet connector (35) and a milk dispensing duct (36) through which hot or cold foamed or smooth milk is dispensed into a container; the inlet connector (34A; 34B) is designed to be connected to a supply line (9, 10, 15) to receive milk therefrom when the milk module (3) is operated in a production mode and to receive a washing liquid when the milk module (3) is operated in a washing mode; and the outlet connector (35) is in fluid communication with the chamber (37) to receive the washing liquid therefrom when the milk module (3) is operated in the washing mode so as to supply the washing liquid to a discharge line (28); the inlet connector (34A; 34B), the outlet connector (35) and the milk dispensing duct (36) open into the chamber (37) and are arranged so that the outlet connector (35) substantially faces the inlet connector (34A; 34B) in a direction of supply of the washing liquid into the chamber (37) and the milk dispensing duct (36) is arranged so that the washing liquid can flow therein in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of supply, thereby causing the outlet connector (35) to represent a preferred path of the washing liquid with respect to the milk dispensing duct (36).

2. The dispensing nozzle (16) according to claim 1, wherein, the direction of supply is substantially horizontal and the milk dispensing duct (36) is arranged so that the washing liquid flows therein via an upward deviation.

3. The dispensing nozzle (16) of claim 1, wherein, the at least one inlet connector (34A; 34B) and the outlet connector (35) have respective mutually parallel axes lying in the same plane; the milk dispensing duct (36) has an inlet (38) having an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane in which the inlet connector (34A; 34B) and the outlet connector (35) lie.

4. The dispensing nozzle (16) according to claim 3, wherein, the axes of the inlet connector (34A; 34B) and of the outlet connector (35) lie in a horizontal plane and the axis of the inlet (38) of the milk dispensing duct (36) is vertical.

5. The dispensing nozzle (16) of claim 1, wherein, the milk dispensing duct (36) extends in a vertical plane from the top of the collector body (33) of the dispensing nozzle (36) and comprises a proximal inverted U-shaped portion and a distal straight portion ending with a dispensing outlet (39).

6. The dispensing nozzle (16) of claim 1, wherein, the chamber (37) is funnel-shaped and has a wider section and a narrower section, the at least one inlet connector (34A; 34B) opening in the wider section and the outlet connector (35) opening in the narrower section.

7. A milk module (3) for producing hot or cold, foamed or non-foamed milk, which can be integrated in a machine for producing milk-based beverages (1) and which comprises: the dispensing nozzle (16) according to claim 1; the dispensing nozzle (16) according to claim 1; a supply line (9, 10, 15) comprising: a supply pump (10), a suction line (9) extending from a fluid inlet to a suction side of the supply pump (10), and a delivery line (15) extending from a delivery side of the supply pump (10) to the dispensing nozzle (16); a discharge line (28); and an electronic control unit (32) configured to operate the milk module (3) in a production mode, in which milk is supplied to the suction line (9), and in a washing mode, in which a washing liquid is supplied to the suction line (9); wherein the discharge line (28) extends from the dispensing nozzle (16) to a waste container (24) and comprises a suction pump (29); and wherein the electronic control unit (32) is further configured to cause the suction line (9) to be supplied with milk during the production mode and with the washing liquid during the washing mode.

8. The milk module (3) according to claim 7, wherein the delivery line (15) comprises a bifurcation at which the delivery line (15) divides into two delivery ducts (15A, 15B) that open into the dispensing nozzle (16) individually or via a common end; wherein, when the delivery ducts (15A, 15B) open into the dispensing nozzle (16) via a common end, the collector body (33) of the dispensing nozzle (16) comprises a single inlet connector (34A; 34B) fluidically connected to the common end; and wherein, when the delivery ducts (15A, 15B) open into the dispensing nozzle (16) separately, the collector body (33) of the dispensing nozzle (16) comprises two inlet connectors (34A, 34B), each of which is associated with a respective delivery duct (15A, 15B); the two inlet connectors (34A; 34B) open into the chamber (37) in such a way that they substantially face the outlet connector (34A; 34B) in the direction of supply of fluid into the chamber (37).

9. The milk module (3) according to claim 8, wherein the delivery line (15) further comprises: a heater (19) arranged along one of the two delivery ducts (15A) and selectively operable to heat milk; and an electronically controllable shut-off valve (25) arranged along the other of the two delivery ducts (15B) and selectively operable to allow milk to flow through the shut-off valve.

10. The milk module (3) according to claim 7, further comprising: an air line (12) for controllably supplying air into the suction line (9); and a flow restrictor (17) arranged downstream of the supply pump (10) to turn an air / milk mixture into foamed milk when the milk module (3) is operated in a production mode.

11. The milk module (3) of claim 7, further comprising: a first valve device (11) arranged between a fluid inlet of the suction line (9) and the supply pump (10); a water supply line (26) which supplies water to the suction line (9) at a flow shot point (27) between the first valve device (11) and the supply pump (10); and a second valve device (22) which is operable to selectively supply the water supply line (26) with water; wherein the electronic control unit (32) is further configured to operate the milk module (3) in a first washing mode; and wherein, in the first washing mode, the electronic control unit (32) is further configured to: control the first valve device (11) and the second valve device (22) to cause water to flow into the water supply line (26) and from the water supply line into the suction line (9) without reaching the fluid inlet of the suction line (9); and coordinately operate the supply pump (10) and the suction pump (29) to cause water to flow along the suction line (9), the delivery line (15) and the discharge line (28).

12. The milk module (3) according to claim 11, wherein The electronic control unit (32) is further configured to operate the milk module (3) between two consecutive production cycles or after a certain period of time.

13. The milk module (3) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein The electronic control unit (32) is further configured to operate the milk module (3) in a second washing mode; wherein, during the first washing mode, the fluid inlet of the suction line (9) is immersed in a milk container (8) and, during the second washing mode, the fluid inlet of the suction line (9) is immersed in a detergent container; and wherein, in the second washing mode, the electronic control unit (32) is further configured to: control the first valve device (11) and the second valve device (22) to cause water to flow into the water supply line (26) and to reach the fluid inlet of the suction line (9) and to fill the detergent container; when the detergent container is full, coordinately operate the supply pump (10) and the suction pump (29) and control the first valve device (11) and the second valve device (22) to prevent water from flowing in the water supply line (26) and to cause the water / detergent mixture in the detergent container to flow along the suction line (9), the delivery line (15) and the discharge line (28).

14. The milk module (3) according to claim 13, wherein The electronic control unit (32) is further configured to operate the milk module (3) at the end of the daily service.

15. A machine (1) for producing milk-based beverages, comprising a milk module (3) according to claim 7.

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