A method of controlling milk froth production for a coffee machine and a coffee machine

Abstract

In the embodiment of the present application, a control method for milk foam making of a coffee machine is provided, the coffee machine comprising a steam generation assembly for outputting steam to milk to be made into milk foam, and a stirring assembly for whipping the milk foam by stirring, the control method comprising: obtaining a target thickness of the milk foam; performing at least one heating step and at least one whipping step based on the thickness of the milk foam; wherein in the heating step, the steam assembly is controlled to input steam into the milk at steam generation parameters corresponding to the target thickness of the milk foam, and a preset heating duration is maintained; in the whipping step, the stirring assembly is controlled to work at stirring parameters corresponding to the target thickness of the milk foam, and a preset whipping duration is maintained; the cooperation of the heating step and the whipping step realizes the making of milk foam with the target thickness, and solves the problem in the related art that the milk frother technology of the coffee machine cannot realize quantitative control of various parameters of the milk foam.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the field of coffee machines, in particular to a milk foam making control method and a coffee machine. BACKGROUND

[0002] The existing coffee machine milk frother technology generally uses high-pressure steam to directly froth milk foam, or uses a high-speed rotating spring to froth milk foam.

[0003] The milk froth quality and thickness of the above two coffee machine milk frother technologies depend on the operation method and the user's experience, and cannot quantitatively control the various parameters of the milk foam, including but not limited to temperature and milk foam thickness.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need to propose a milk foam making control method and a coffee machine to at least solve the problem that the milk frother technology of the coffee machine cannot quantitatively control the various parameters of the milk foam in the related art. SUMMARY

[0005] The present application provides a milk foam making control method and a coffee machine to at least solve the problem that the milk frother technology of the coffee machine cannot quantitatively control the various parameters of the milk foam in the related art.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present application, a milk foam making control method is provided, which is applicable to a coffee machine including a steam assembly for outputting steam to milk to be made into milk foam, and a stirring assembly for frothing milk foam by stirring. The control method includes: obtaining a milk foam target thickness; performing at least one heating step and at least one frothing step based on the milk foam thickness; wherein in the heating step: controlling the steam assembly to input steam into the milk with steam generation parameters corresponding to the milk foam target thickness, and maintaining a preset heating duration; in the frothing step: controlling the stirring assembly to work with stirring parameters corresponding to the milk foam target thickness, and maintaining a preset frothing duration.

[0007] Optionally, the performing at least one heating step and at least one frothing step based on the milk foam thickness includes: determining the execution times and execution timing of the heating step and the frothing step based on the milk foam target thickness; the execution timing and execution times of the heating step and the frothing step corresponding to different milk foam target thicknesses are different.

[0008] Optionally, the performing at least one heating step and at least one frothing step based on the milk foam thickness includes: simultaneously performing the heating step and the frothing step at least once.

[0009] Optionally, the steam generation parameter comprises a steam output rate; the stirring parameter comprises a stirring rotation speed and an air introduction amount; the performing at least one heating step and at least one whipping step based on the milk foam thickness comprises: at least one pre-whipping step: controlling the stirring assembly to work at a first preset stirring rotation speed and a first preset air introduction amount, and maintaining a first preset whipping time length; at least one pre-heating step: controlling the steam assembly to input steam to the milk at a first steam input rate, and maintaining a first preset heating time length; a heating and whipping step: controlling the steam assembly to input steam to the milk at a second steam input rate, and maintaining a second preset heating time length, while controlling the stirring assembly to work at a second preset stirring rotation speed and a second preset air introduction amount, and maintaining a second preset whipping time length; at least one post-whipping step: controlling the stirring assembly to work at a third preset stirring rotation speed and a third preset air introduction amount, and maintaining a third preset whipping time length; at least one post-heating step: controlling the steam assembly to input steam to the milk at a third steam input rate, and maintaining a third preset heating time length.

[0010] Optionally, in the performing of the whipping step, the stirring assembly is controlled to rotate in a variable rotation speed mode or a constant rotation speed mode based on the milk foam target thickness to adjust the milk foam actual thickness.

[0011] Optionally, the stirring assembly comprises a stirring motor, a stirring piece connected with the stirring motor through a transmission shaft, and the transmission shaft comprises an air pipeline and an air inlet valve; in the performing of the whipping step, the stirring motor is controlled to rotate in a first rotation direction to open the air inlet valve, and to rotate in a second rotation direction to close the air inlet valve, the first rotation direction being opposite to the second rotation direction, based on the milk foam target thickness to adjust the air introduction amount.

[0012] Optionally, in the performing of the heating step, the steam assembly is controlled to output steam at a variable rate based on the milk foam target thickness to adjust the milk foam actual thickness.

[0013] Optionally, the steam assembly comprises a heating device and a water pump; the controlling of the steam assembly to output steam at a variable rate based on the milk foam target thickness comprises: controlling the water pump to pump water to the heating device at a fixed water pumping power; and controlling the heating device to heat at a variable heating power, so that the heating temperature of the heating device changes at a preset oscillation amplitude to realize the variable rate output of steam.

[0014] Optionally, the steam assembly comprises a heating device and a water pump; the controlling the steam assembly to output steam at a variable rate based on the target thickness of the milk foam comprises: controlling the heating device to heat at a fixed heating power; and controlling the water pump to pump water to the heating device at a variable pumping power, so that the heating temperature of the heating device varies at a preset oscillation amplitude, to achieve the variable rate of outputting steam.

[0015] According to yet another aspect of the present application, a coffee machine is provided, comprising a steam assembly for outputting steam to milk to be made into milk foam, a stirring assembly for whipping the milk foam by stirring, and at least one processor; the processor is capable of executing the control method of milk foam making according to any one of the above.

[0016] The embodiments of the present application provide a control method of milk foam making, which is suitable for a coffee machine, the coffee machine comprising a steam assembly for outputting steam to milk to be made into milk foam, and a stirring assembly for whipping the milk foam by stirring, the control method comprising: obtaining a target thickness of the milk foam; performing at least one heating step and at least one whipping step based on the target thickness of the milk foam; in the heating step, controlling the steam assembly to input steam to the milk at steam generation parameters corresponding to the target thickness of the milk foam, and maintaining a preset heating duration; in the whipping step, controlling the stirring assembly to work at stirring parameters corresponding to the target thickness of the milk foam, and maintaining a preset whipping duration; the cooperation of the heating step and the whipping step realizes the making of milk foam with the target thickness, and solves the problem in the prior art that the milk frother of the coffee machine cannot quantitatively control various parameters of the milk foam. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form part of the specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the present application and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the application.

[0018] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application or the prior art, the drawings needed to be used in the embodiments or prior art description will be briefly introduced as follows, and obviously, other drawings can also be obtained by those skilled in the art without creative labor.

[0019] Figure 1 is a flowchart of an optional control method of milk foam making according to the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] In order to better understand the present application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, but not all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative work should fall within the scope of the present application.

[0021] It should be noted that the terms "first", "second", and the like in the specification and claims of the present application and the above-described accompanying drawings are used to distinguish similar objects, and do not necessarily indicate a specific order or a chronological sequence. It should be understood that the data thus used can be interchanged under appropriate circumstances, so that the embodiments of the present application described herein can be implemented in an order other than that illustrated or described herein. In addition, the terms "include" and "have" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, for example, a process, method, system, product or device including a series of steps or units does not necessarily have to be limited to those steps or units clearly listed, but can include other steps or units not clearly listed or inherent to these processes, methods, products or devices.

[0022] According to an aspect of the present application, a control method for milk froth making is provided, which is applicable to a coffee machine, the coffee machine comprising a steam assembly for outputting steam to milk to be made into milk froth, and a stirring assembly for whipping the milk froth by stirring; in the present application, as an exemplary embodiment, the control method comprises:

[0023] S10. obtaining a target thickness of milk froth;

[0024] In order to achieve quantitative control of various parameters of milk froth, in the present application, a target thickness of milk froth is obtained.

[0025] Exemplarily, the target thickness of milk froth can be determined according to user's autonomous selection, for example, can be determined according to the target thickness input by the user to the coffee machine by operating the coffee machine; the target thickness of milk froth can also be determined by the program of the coffee machine, for example, can be determined according to the amount of milk added by the user, which is not specifically limited here.

[0026] S20. performing at least one heating step and at least one whipping step based on the thickness of the milk froth; wherein in the heating step: controlling the steam assembly to input steam into the milk with steam generation parameters corresponding to the target thickness of the milk froth, and maintaining a preset heating time; in the whipping step: controlling the stirring assembly to work with stirring parameters corresponding to the target thickness of the milk froth, and maintaining a preset whipping time.

[0027] The inventors have found that, in the preparation of milk foam, on the one hand, the thickness of milk foam is at least related to the steam parameter of the steam assembly in the heating step, the heating time, and the stirring parameter in the whipping step, the whipping time; specifically, the thickness of milk foam is at least positively correlated with the heating time in the heating step, that is, the longer the heating time in the heating step, the thicker the thickness of milk foam; and the thickness of milk foam is also at least positively correlated with the stirring, aeration and whipping time in the whipping step, that is, the better the stirring effect, the thicker the thickness of milk foam, the more aeration, the thicker the thickness of milk foam, and the longer the whipping time, the thicker the milk foam; on the other hand, the thickness of milk foam is related to the execution times and execution timing of the heating step and the whipping step; based on this, in the present application, at least one heating step and at least one whipping step are performed based on the thickness of milk foam, so as to realize the preparation of milk foam with target thickness through the cooperation of the heating step and the whipping step.

[0028] It should be understood that, in the embodiments of the present application, the factors that determine the thickness of milk foam at least include the steam generation parameter and the preset heating time in the heating step, and the whipping parameter and the whipping time in the whipping step, and changing any of the above determining factors will affect the thickness of milk foam; based on this, in the present application, the thickness of milk foam can be controlled by separately changing the steam generation parameter value and / or the heating time value of the steam assembly in the heating step; the thickness of milk foam can also be controlled by separately changing the stirring parameter and / or the whipping time value of the stirring assembly in the whipping step; the thickness of milk foam can also be controlled by separately changing the execution times and execution timing of the heating step and the whipping step; through any one of the above three aspects, or by combining the above three kinds of control of the thickness of milk foam, the value of one or more of the above parameters can be changed to realize the infinite adjustment of the thickness of milk foam.

[0029] Therefore, as a possible implementation manner, the at least one heating step and the at least one whipping step based on the thickness of milk foam include: determining the execution times and execution timing of the heating step and the whipping step based on the target thickness of milk foam; different target thicknesses of milk foam correspond to different execution timing and execution times of the heating step and the whipping step.

[0030] In the present implementation, after the milk foam target thickness is determined, the number of times and the timing of execution of the heating step and the whipping step are determined based on the milk foam target thickness. On the one hand, the more the number of times of execution of the heating step and the whipping step, the greater the actual thickness of the milk foam. Based on this, the number of times of execution of the heating step and the whipping step is positively correlated with the milk foam target thickness. On the other hand, during the production of milk foam, the thickness of milk foam produced by milk with a higher temperature is greater than the thickness of milk foam produced by milk with a lower temperature. Therefore, in the present application, the greater the milk foam target thickness, the earlier the timing of execution of the heating step compared to the timing of execution of the whipping step, and the greater the number of times of execution of the heating step. In the present embodiment, the control mode that the number of times of execution of the heating step and the whipping step is positively correlated with the milk foam target thickness, the greater the milk foam target thickness, the earlier the timing of execution of the heating step compared to the timing of execution of the whipping step, and the greater the number of times of execution of the heating step can be used alone to determine the number of times of execution and the timing of execution of the heating step or the number of times of execution and the timing of execution of the whipping step to achieve the production of milk foam with the milk foam target thickness. The production of milk foam with the milk foam target thickness can also be achieved by combining the above implementation modes.

[0031] For example, in the present embodiment, if the milk foam target thickness is large, the control of a larger milk foam target thickness can be achieved by executing the heating step multiple times and then executing the whipping step multiple times, wherein the greater the milk foam target thickness, the greater the number of times of execution of the heating step, and the greater the number of times of execution of the whipping step. If the milk foam target thickness is small, the control of a smaller milk foam target thickness can be achieved by executing the whipping step multiple times and then executing the heating step once. Wherein the greater the milk foam target thickness, the greater the number of times of execution of the whipping step

[0032] As an exemplary embodiment, the at least one heating step and the at least one whipping step based on the milk foam thickness includes simultaneously executing the heating step and the whipping step at least once.

[0033] It should be understood that, after the target thickness of milk foam is determined, the milk foam can be made by performing the heating step and the whipping step at least once simultaneously in the above embodiments; in the present embodiment, it should be understood that the thickness of the milk foam can also be controlled by changing the stirring parameters and / or the whipping time value of the stirring assembly in the at least one whipping step; the thickness of the milk foam can also be controlled by changing the number of whipping steps, for example, the whipping step is set to once, twice, three times, etc.; the thickness of the milk foam can also be controlled by changing the number of execution and the execution timing of the heating step and the whipping step; the thickness of the milk foam can also be controlled by changing the steam generation parameters in the at least one pre-whipping step; the thickness of the milk foam can also be controlled by changing the number of heating steps, for example, the heating step is set to once, twice, three times, etc.; and the thickness of the milk foam can also be controlled by combining one or more of the above methods.

[0034] For example, in the present embodiment, the greater the target thickness of the milk foam, the greater the number of heating steps and whipping steps, and the greater the parameter change amplitude for changing the steam generation parameters and the stirring parameters and / or the whipping time value of the stirring assembly to increase the actual thickness of the milk foam.

[0035] As an exemplary embodiment, the steam generation parameters include a steam output rate; the stirring parameters include a stirring speed and an air introduction amount; and the performing at least one heating step and at least one whipping step based on the thickness of the milk foam includes: at least one pre-whipping step: controlling the stirring assembly to work at a first preset stirring speed and a first preset air introduction amount, and maintaining a first preset whipping time; at least one pre-heating step: controlling the steam assembly to introduce steam into the milk at a first steam introduction rate, and maintaining a first preset heating time; a heating and whipping step: controlling the steam assembly to introduce steam into the milk at a second steam introduction rate, and maintaining a second preset heating time, while controlling the stirring assembly to work at a second preset stirring speed and a second preset air introduction amount, and maintaining a second preset whipping time; at least one post-whipping step: controlling the stirring assembly to work at a third preset stirring speed and a third preset air introduction amount, and maintaining a third preset whipping time; and at least one post-heating step: controlling the steam assembly to introduce steam into the milk at a third steam introduction rate, and maintaining a third preset heating time.

[0036] In the pre-whipping step, only the milk is stirred by the milk frother; for example, in the pre-whipping step, the stirring assembly is controlled to work at a first preset stirring speed and a first preset air introduction amount by controlling the direction of the stirring assembly and the speed of the stirring assembly; and the first preset whipping time is maintained by controlling the pre-whipping step maintenance time.

[0037] at least one pre-heating step: controlling the steam component to pass steam into the milk at a first steam passing rate and maintaining a first pre-set heating time;

[0038] wherein, in the pre-heating step, only steam is used to heat the milk liquid; and

[0039] a heating and whipping step: controlling the steam component to pass steam into the milk at a second steam passing rate and maintaining a second pre-set heating time, while controlling the stirring component to work at a second pre-set stirring speed and a second pre-set air introduction amount and maintaining a second pre-set whipping time;

[0040] wherein, in the heating and whipping step, steam is used to heat the milk liquid and the milk whipper is used to stir the milk liquid; and

[0041] at least one post-whipping step: controlling the stirring component to work at a third pre-set stirring speed and a third pre-set air introduction amount and maintaining a third pre-set whipping time;

[0042] wherein, in the post-whipping step, only the milk whipper is used to stir the milk liquid, and the stirring component is controlled to work at the third pre-set stirring speed and the third pre-set air introduction amount by controlling the direction of rotation of the motor and the rotation speed of the motor.

[0043] at least one post-heating step: controlling the steam component to pass steam into the milk at a third steam passing rate and maintaining a third pre-set heating time.

[0044] wherein, in the post-heating step, only steam is used to heat the milk liquid, and the steam component is controlled to pass steam into the milk at the third steam passing rate by controlling the heating power of the heating component and the pump speed of the water pump.

[0045] For the above-mentioned embodiments, it should be understood that, in the case of determining the heating whipping step, the control of the thickness of the milk foam can be achieved by changing the at least one pre-whipping step and / or the at least one pre-heating step and / or the at least one post-whipping step and / or the at least one post-heating step; in particular, the control of the thickness of the milk foam is achieved by changing the first preset whipping time and / or the first preset heating time and / or the second preset whipping time and / or the second preset whipping time; in this embodiment, the greater the stirring speed, the amount of air introduced and the duration in the pre-whipping step and post-whipping step, the more sufficient the stirring and the more air is introduced in the process of making milk foam; therefore, the thickness of the milk foam is positively correlated with the stirring speed, the amount of air introduced and the duration; in the pre-heating step and post-heating step, the greater the steam component steam input rate and the duration, the greater the steam input rate and the duration are positively correlated; based on this, when the target milk foam thickness is small without considering the influence of the heating assembly and the stirring assembly on the thickness of the milk foam, the first preset whipping time and / or the first preset heating time and / or the second preset whipping time and / or the second preset whipping time can be adjusted to be smaller; when the target milk foam thickness is large, the first preset whipping time and / or the first preset heating time and / or the second preset whipping time and / or the second preset whipping time can be adjusted to be larger to achieve the control of the target milk foam thickness. It should be understood that when the target milk foam thickness is small, the pre-heating step and / or the pre-whipping step and / or the post-heating step and / or the post-whipping step can not be performed at this time, and the first preset whipping time and / or the second preset whipping time and / or the first preset heating time and / or the second preset heating time can be adjusted to zero at this time; it should be understood that when the first preset whipping time is zero, the pre-whipping step is directly skipped, when the second preset whipping time is zero, the post-whipping step is directly skipped, when the first preset heating time is zero, the pre-heating step is directly skipped, and when the second preset heating time is zero, the post-heating step is directly skipped.

[0046] It should be understood that by adopting one, several or any combination of the above-mentioned embodiments, the thickness of the milk foam can be infinitely adjusted by controlling the change in the value of one or more of the above-mentioned parameters.

[0047] In the present application, the steam assembly at least includes a water pump device, a heating device, a heating body temperature measuring device, a steam passage distribution valve device, the stirring assembly at least includes a milk liquid temperature measuring device, a stirring motor device, a transmission shaft device, a spring milk whipper device; wherein the water pump assembly is used to pump water from the water tank to the heating device; the heating device is used to heat water into steam; the heating body temperature measuring device is used to measure the current temperature of the heating body and input the heating body temperature parameter to the control board device; the steam passage distribution valve device is used to select the pipeline passage of water or water vapor from the heating device; the residual water collection box device is used to collect the water / steam mixture discharged by the heating device before the steam function is made; the milk liquid temperature measuring device is used to measure the temperature during the milk foam whipping process; the stirring motor device is used to drive the transmission shaft to the required rotating speed.

[0048] The transmission shaft device, on the one hand, is used to transmit the torque of the motor to the spring milk whipper assembly; on the one hand, as a guide pipe, it transmits air into the air pipeline of the spring milk whipper; on the one hand, it opens the air inlet valve when the motor rotates to introduce air into the guide pipe, or closes the air inlet valve to block the air into the guide pipe. Wherein, as a possible implementation, the air inlet valve is opened to introduce air into the guide pipe when the motor rotates forward, and the air inlet valve is closed to block the air into the guide pipe when the motor reverses; as another possible implementation, the air inlet valve is closed to block the air into the guide pipe when the motor rotates forward, and the air inlet valve is opened to introduce air into the guide pipe when the motor reverses.

[0049] The spring milk whipper device, on the one hand, receives the torque of the transmission shaft; on the one hand, it drives the milk liquid with the whipping spring; on the other hand, it transmits the air introduced from the transmission shaft assembly into the milk liquid.

[0050] The control board, on the one hand, collects the temperature of the heating assembly surface, on the one hand, collects the temperature of the milk liquid / milk foam, on the one hand, controls the heating power of the heating assembly, on the one hand, controls the rotating direction of the motor assembly, on the one hand, controls the rotating speed of the motor assembly, and on the other hand, automatically calculates the output power and rotating speed.

[0051] Through the above settings, as a possible implementation, the control board realizes the pre-heating step and the post-heating step by controlling the heating power of the heating assembly, the water pumping power of the water pump assembly and the steam passage distribution valve device; the pre-whipping step and the post-whipping step are realized by controlling the stirring motor device, the transmission shaft device and the spring milk whipper device.

[0052] As an exemplary embodiment, in the execution of the whipping step, the stirring assembly is controlled to rotate in variable speed mode or constant speed mode based on the target thickness of the milk foam to adjust the actual thickness of the milk foam.

[0053] Wherein, by the above motor speed control, the intensity of milk foam stirring can be increased, so as to achieve better milk foam effect.

[0054] Wherein, as a possible implementation, after the motor speed control flow starts, a motor acceleration function model is selected, and the acceleration function fitting is realized by controlling the motor drive voltage; the speed change line is determined, and the speed change fitting is realized by controlling the motor drive voltage.

[0055] Wherein, for example, the acceleration function includes but is not limited to any form of mathematical function model; wherein the mathematical function model includes but is not limited to at least one of linear acceleration, positive acceleration, top acceleration acceleration, etc. or a combination thereof.

[0056] The above method realizes the thickness quantization problem in the milk foam whipping process through the whipping machine speed control, introduces the variable design of variable speed, increases the degree of freedom of milk foam thickness adjustment, makes the continuous control of milk foam thickness, and enriches the user's selection demand for milk foam.

[0057] As an exemplary embodiment, the stirring assembly comprises: a stirring motor, a stirring member connected with the stirring motor through a transmission shaft, and the transmission shaft comprising an air pipeline and an air inlet valve;

[0058] In the execution of the whipping step, the rotation direction of the stirring motor is controlled based on the milk foam target thickness to adjust the amount of air introduced, wherein the stirring motor opens the air inlet valve when rotating in a first rotation direction and closes the air inlet valve when rotating in a second rotation direction, and the first rotation direction is opposite to the second rotation direction.

[0059] Wherein, as a possible implementation, the first rotation direction is forward, the second rotation direction is reverse, and the stirring motor opens the air inlet valve when rotating forward and closes the air inlet valve when rotating reverse.

[0060] As another possible implementation, the first rotation direction is reverse, the second rotation direction is forward, and the stirring motor opens the air inlet valve when rotating reverse and closes the air inlet valve when rotating forward.

[0061] As an exemplary embodiment, in the execution of the heating step, the steam assembly is controlled to output steam at a variable speed based on the milk foam target thickness to adjust the actual thickness of the milk foam.

[0062] As an exemplary embodiment, the steam assembly comprises a heating device and a water pump; the controlling the steam assembly to output steam at a variable rate based on the target thickness of the milk foam comprises: controlling the water pump to pump water to the heating device at a fixed water pumping power; and controlling the heating device to heat at a variable heating power, so that the heating temperature of the heating device varies at a preset oscillation amplitude to achieve the variable rate of steam output.

[0063] As an exemplary embodiment, the steam assembly comprises a heating device and a water pump; the controlling the steam assembly to output steam at a variable rate based on the target thickness of the milk foam comprises: controlling the water pump to pump water to the heating device at a fixed water pumping power; and controlling the heating device to heat at a variable heating power, so that the heating temperature of the heating device varies at a preset oscillation amplitude to achieve the variable rate of steam output.

[0064] The above arrangement quantitatively controls the oscillation amplitude of the surface temperature of the heating body by changing the heating or water pump pumping speed, thereby achieving the change of the steam rate, improving the impact heating effect during the milk frothing process, and synchronously quantitatively adjusting the amount of air entering the milk foam, thereby achieving a more dense and lubricating milk foam, and realizing the adjustable thickness of the milk foam.

[0065] According to another aspect of the present application, a coffee machine is provided, comprising a steam assembly for outputting steam to milk to be frothed, a stirring assembly for stirring the milk foam, and at least one processor; the processor can execute the control method for frothing milk foam according to any one of the above embodiments.

[0066] In the above embodiments of the present application, the description of each embodiment has its own focus, and the parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment can be referred to the relevant description of other embodiments.

[0067] The above description is only the preferred embodiments of the present application, and it should be pointed out that, for those skilled in the art, without departing from the principles of the present application, a number of improvements and refinements can be made, which should also be considered as the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A control method of milk froth production of a coffee machine, characterized in that, The coffee machine comprises a steam assembly for outputting steam to milk to be made into milk foam, and a stirring assembly for whipping milk foam by stirring, and the control method comprises: acquiring a target thickness of milk foam; performing at least one heating step and at least one whipping step based on the thickness of milk foam; wherein in the heating step, the steam assembly is controlled to input steam into the milk at a steam generation parameter corresponding to the target thickness of milk foam, and a preset heating duration is maintained; in the whipping step, the stirring assembly is controlled to work at a stirring parameter corresponding to the target thickness of milk foam, and a preset whipping duration is maintained; the number of times and the timing of the execution of the heating step and the whipping step are determined based on the target thickness of milk foam; the number of times and the timing of the execution of the heating step and the whipping step corresponding to different target thicknesses of milk foam are different.

2. The control method of milk foam production according to claim 1, characterized by, The method comprises: at least one time, the heating step and the whipping step are performed simultaneously.

3. The control method of milk foam production according to claim 1, characterized in that, The steam generation parameter comprises a steam output rate; the stirring parameter comprises a stirring speed and an air introduction amount; The method comprises: at least one pre-whipping step: the stirring assembly is controlled to work at a first preset stirring speed and a first preset air introduction amount, and a first preset whipping duration is maintained; at least one pre-heating step: the steam assembly is controlled to input steam into the milk at a first steam input rate, and a first preset heating duration is maintained; a heating and whipping step: the steam assembly is controlled to input steam into the milk at a second steam input rate, and a second preset heating duration is maintained, while the stirring assembly is controlled to work at a second preset stirring speed and a second preset air introduction amount, and a second preset whipping duration is maintained; at least one post-whipping step: the stirring assembly is controlled to work at a third preset stirring speed and a third preset air introduction amount, and a third preset whipping duration is maintained; at least one post-heating step: the steam assembly is controlled to input steam into the milk at a third steam input rate, and a third preset heating duration is maintained.

4. The control method of milk foam production according to claim 1, characterized by, In the whipping step, the stirring assembly is controlled to rotate in a variable speed mode or a constant speed mode based on the target thickness of milk foam, so as to adjust the actual thickness of milk foam.

5. The control method of milk foam production according to claim 1, characterized by, The stirring assembly comprises a stirring motor, a stirring part connected to the stirring motor through a transmission shaft, and the transmission shaft comprises an air pipeline and an air inlet valve; In the whipping step, the rotation direction of the stirring motor is controlled based on the target thickness of milk foam, so as to adjust the air introduction amount, wherein the stirring motor opens the air inlet valve when rotating in a first rotation direction, and closes the air inlet valve when rotating in a second rotation direction, and the first rotation direction is opposite to the second rotation direction.

6. The control method of milk foam production according to claim 1, characterized by, In the heating step, the steam assembly is controlled to output steam at a variable rate based on the target thickness of milk foam, so as to adjust the actual thickness of milk foam.

7. The control method of milk foam production according to claim 6, characterized by, The steam assembly comprises a heating device and a water pump; The method comprises: controlling the water pump to pump water to the heating device with a fixed water pumping power; controlling the heating of the heating device with a variable heating power, so that the heating temperature of the heating device varies with a preset oscillation amplitude, to achieve variable-rate output steam.

8. The control method of milk foam production according to claim 6, characterized by, the steam assembly comprises a heating device and a water pump; the controlling the steam assembly to output steam at a variable rate based on the milk foam target thickness comprises: controlling the heating of the heating device with a fixed heating power; controlling the water pump to pump water to the heating device with a variable water pumping power, so that the heating temperature of the heating device varies with a preset oscillation amplitude, to achieve variable-rate output steam.

9. A coffee maker, characterized in that The steam assembly is configured to output steam to milk to be made into milk foam, and the stirring assembly is configured to whip the milk foam by stirring. The at least one processor is capable of performing the control method for making milk foam according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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