Combination coffee machine with milk emulsifier

Abstract

The present invention provides a coffee machine (1) in combination with a milk emulsifier (2) wherein the milk emulsifier (2) comprises a venturi effect mixing chamber (3), the venturi effect mixing chamber has a steam inlet opening (4) for inducing the venturi effect, a milk inlet opening (5) for pumping milk by the venturi effect, an air inlet opening (6) for pumping air by the venturi effect, and a milk outlet opening (7), where the steam inlet opening (4) is connected to a first inlet connector (8), and the milk inlet opening (5) is connected to a second inlet connector (8). The air inlet opening (6) is connected to a second inlet connector (9); wherein the coffee machine (1) has a first outlet connector (10) connectable with the first inlet connector (8), a second outlet connector (11) connectable with the second inlet connector (9), a first supply conduit (12) in communication with the first outlet connector (10) and a second supply conduit (13) in communication with the second outlet connector (11), the coffee machine (1) comprising a valve device (14), the valve device switches between a first state, in which the second supply conduit (13) is connected to the air source (16), and a second state, in which the second supply conduit (13) is connected to the steam and / or hot water source (24).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a coffee machine equipped with a milk frother.

[0002] It is currently known a coffee machine associated with a milk frother having a mixing chamber in which the incoming steam flow generates a vacuum effect (Venturi effect) which sucks milk from a milk supply conduit and air from an air supply conduit.

[0003] The sucked milk flow is heated by the steam flow and frothed by the sucked air flow.

[0004] One of the most important problems generally involves the formation and accumulation of milk deposits inside the conduits of the frother.

[0005] In addition to generating unpleasant odors, these deposits tend to clog the affected conduits and, therefore, if not effectively removed, over time they can deteriorate the performance of the frother.

[0006] Therefore, the technical task of the present invention is to create a coffee machine having a milk frother which eliminates the technical drawbacks complained of in the known art.

[0007] In this technical task, one purpose of the present invention is to provide an extremely effective system for cleaning the internal conduits of a milk frother associated with a coffee machine.

[0008] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an automatic cleaning system, therefore effective regardless of the user's abilities.

[0009] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a cleaning system which does not make the construction of the frother and / or of the coffee machine too complex.

[0010] The technical objectives and other objects of the present invention are achieved by a coffee machine combined with a milk emulsifier, wherein the milk emulsifier includes a Venturi effect mixing chamber having a steam inlet opening for initiating a Venturi effect, an inlet opening for drawing milk through a Venturi effect, an inlet opening for drawing air through a Venturi effect, and a milk outlet opening, wherein the steam inlet opening is connected to a first inlet connector and the air inlet opening is connected to a second inlet connector, wherein the coffee machine has a steam and / or hot water source, an air source, a first outlet connector capable of connecting to the first inlet connector, a second outlet connector capable of connecting to the second inlet connector, a first supply conduit communicating with the first outlet connector and a second supply conduit communicating with the second outlet connector, the first supply conduit being connected to the steam and / or hot water source, and the coffee machine being characterized by including a valve device that switches between a first state and a second state, wherein in the first state the second supply conduit is connected to the air source and in the second state the second supply conduit is connected to the steam and / or hot water source.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, these valve devices include a three-way solenoid valve.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the three-way solenoid valve is inserted between a first section of the second conduit connected to an air source and a second section of the second conduit connected to a second outlet connector, and the three-way solenoid valve has a first port connected to the first section of the second conduit, a second port connected to the second section of the second conduit, and a third port connected to a steam and / or hot water source.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first inlet connector and the first outlet connector have a first geometric connection axis that is parallel to a second geometric connection axis between the second inlet connector and the second outlet connector.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the steam and / or hot water inlet opening and the outlet opening are oriented along the first geometric connection axis, while the air inlet opening and the milk inlet opening are radially oriented towards the first geometric connection axis and offset at an angle around the first geometric connection axis.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first inlet connector, the second inlet connector, and the steam and / or hot water inlet opening are formed in a single block that can be removed from the aerator.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first inlet connector has an internal shut-off valve having a predetermined opening pressure.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the frother includes a milk container, a milk supply conduit connecting the milk container to a milk inlet opening, and a removable cap for the milk container, wherein a mixing chamber, a first inlet connector, and a second inlet connector are mounted in the removable cap.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second supply conduit has at least two branches, each of which is equipped with a dedicated solenoid valve for opening.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the coffee machine is programmed with at least one milk processing program and at least one frother cleaning program, wherein in the at least one milk processing program, the valve device is held in a first state, and in the at least one frother cleaning program, the valve device cycles between the first state and a second state.

[0020] Further features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the milk foaming apparatus according to the invention, which is illustrated by way of example rather than limitation in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0021] Figure 1 A vertical cross-section of the front portion of the coffee machine with the frother connected is shown;

[0022] Figure 2 A vertical cross-section of the front portion of the coffee machine is shown with the frother disconnected;

[0023] Figure 3 A vertical cross-section of a partially decomposed bubbler is shown.

[0024] Referring to the accompanying drawings, a coffee machine 1 is shown in conjunction with a milk frother 2, which can be connected to and disconnected from the coffee machine 1.

[0025] Coffee machine 1 includes, in a known manner, a hydraulic circuit (not shown) for coffee production, which includes a cascaded water source (such as a water tank or connection to a water supply network), a pump for supplying brewing water, a brewer for heating the brewing water, a brewer, and a coffee dispensing unit.

[0026] The coffee machine 1 also includes a frame that houses the aforementioned hydraulic circuit used for coffee production.

[0027] The milk frother 2 includes a Venturi effect mixing chamber 3, which has a steam inlet opening 4 for initiating the Venturi effect, a milk inlet opening 5 for milk drawn in by the Venturi effect, an air inlet opening 6 for air drawn in by the Venturi effect, and a milk outlet opening 7.

[0028] Steam inlet opening 4 is connected to the first inlet connector 8.

[0029] Air inlet opening 6 is connected to second inlet connector 9.

[0030] The milk outlet opening 7 is connected to an adjustable milk dispenser 31 for dispensing milk directly into the cup 32.

[0031] The coffee machine 1 has a steam and / or hot water source 24, an air source 16, a first outlet connector 10 capable of connecting to a first inlet connector 8, a second outlet connector 11 capable of connecting to a second inlet connector 9, a first supply conduit 12 communicating with the first outlet connector 10, and a second supply conduit 13 communicating with the second outlet connector 11. The steam and / or hot water source 24 includes a brewer, which may be a dedicated brewer for this purpose, as shown, or it may be the same brewer already provided for heating brewing water and adapted to this additional function.

[0032] Air source 16 can be formed from any free interior space of the frame 23 of coffee machine 1 that is connected to the external atmospheric environment.

[0033] The first supply conduit 12 is connected to a steam and / or hot water source 24.

[0034] Advantageously, the coffee machine 1 includes a specific valve device 14 capable of switching between a first state and a second state, in which a second supply conduit 13 is connected to an air source 16, and in the second state, the second supply conduit 13 is connected to a steam and / or hot water source 24. The valve device 14 includes a three-way solenoid valve 17.

[0035] The three-way solenoid valve 17 is inserted between the first section 13a of the second supply conduit 13 connected to the air source 16 and the second section 13b of the second supply conduit 13 connected to the second outlet connector 11.

[0036] The three-way solenoid valve 17 has a first port 13' connected to a first section 13a of the second supply conduit 13, a second port 13'' connected to a second section 13b of the second supply conduit 13, and a third port 13''' connected to a steam and / or hot water source 24.

[0037] The second supply conduit 13 (and specifically the first section 13a of the second supply conduit 13) has at least two branches 13a', 13a'', each of which is equipped with a dedicated solenoid valve 15, 30, which opens and closes the connection between the first section 13a of the second supply conduit 13 and the air source 16.

[0038] The two branches 13a' and 13a'' have different minimum channel cross sections; for example, the minimum channel cross section of branch 13a' is larger.

[0039] From the perspective of the construction of emulsifier 2, the first inlet connector 8 and the first outlet connector 10 have a first geometric connection axis L, which is parallel to the second geometric connection axis L' of the connection between the second inlet connector 9 and the second outlet connector 11.

[0040] The steam and / or hot water inlet opening 4 and the outlet opening 7 are oriented along the first geometric connection axis L.

[0041] The air inlet opening 6 and the milk inlet opening 5 are radially pointed to the first geometric connection axis L and offset at an angle around the first geometric connection axis L.

[0042] The first inlet connector 8, the second inlet connector 9, and the steam and / or hot water inlet opening 4 are formed in a single block 18 that can be removed from the emulsifier 2.

[0043] Specifically, a male / female connection system is provided between the first inlet connector 8 and the first tubular fitting 8' communicating with the mixing chamber 3, and between the second inlet connector 9 and the second tubular fitting 9' communicating with the air inlet opening 6.

[0044] The first tubular fitting 8' is straight, while the second tubular fitting 9' is at a right angle.

[0045] Mechanical and hydraulic seals between the first inlet connector 8 and the first tubular fitting 8', and between the second inlet connector 9 and the second tubular fitting 9', are ensured by appropriate rings 33 and 34.

[0046] The first inlet connector 8 includes a shut-off valve 19 with a preset opening pressure.

[0047] As illustrated, the shut-off valve 19 may be a ball valve 19a that is able to resist the action of the spring 19b and move by the action of the spring.

[0048] The emulsifier 2 also includes a milk container 20, a milk supply conduit 21 that connects the milk container 20 to the milk inlet opening 5, and a lid 22 for the milk container 20.

[0049] The mixing chamber 3, milk dispenser 31, accessories 8', 9' and block 18 are installed in the cover 22.

[0050] The lid 22 is removably mounted on the milk container 20.

[0051] The outlet connectors 10 and 11 are positioned on the front wall of the frame 23 of the coffee machine 1.

[0052] To connect the emulsifier 2 to the coffee machine 1, first align the inlet connectors 8 and 9 with the corresponding outlet connectors 10 and 11, and then move the emulsifier 2 along the connecting axes L and L'.

[0053] This movement can be guided by sliding the milk container 20 horizontally on a horizontal support plane 27 located at the front of the coffee machine 1, which is also intended to support the cup 32 adjacent to the milk container 20.

[0054] Connection is achieved by applying a horizontal thrust to the emulsifier 2 until the inlet connectors 8 and 9 engage with the corresponding outlet connectors 10 and 11, while disconnection is achieved by pulling the emulsifier 2 in the opposite direction until the inlet connectors 8 and 9 disengage from the corresponding outlet connectors 10 and 11.

[0055] The controller 25 of the coffee machine 1 includes at least one milk processing program and at least one washing program for the emulsifier 2, wherein in the at least one milk processing program, the valve device 14 is held in a first state, and in the at least one washing program, the valve device 14 is cyclically switched between the first state and a second state.

[0056] The operation of coffee machine 1 with emulsifier 2 is as follows.

[0057] The controller 25 of the coffee machine 1 can be programmed with a series of milk processing programs that differ in the state of the solenoid valves 15 and 30, but do not differ in the state of the switching valve device 14, i.e., it remains switched to the first configuration.

[0058] The user can select the desired milk processing program on the dashboard of the coffee machine 1. If the desired milk processing program requires hot milk without foam, the solenoid valves 15 and 30 remain closed, and the steam flow delivered by the first supply conduit 12 draws milk from the milk container 20 into the mixing chamber 3 through the Venturi effect and heats the milk.

[0059] On the other hand, if the desired milk processing procedure requires hot milk with foam, one of the solenoid valves 15 and 30 remains open while the other remains closed, and the steam flow delivered by the first supply conduit 12 draws both air from the second supply conduit 13 and milk from the milk container 20 into the mixing chamber 3 via the Venturi effect, and then the drawn milk is heated and emulsified with air in the mixing chamber 3.

[0060] If valve 30 is opened on branch 13a' with a larger minimum channel cross-section, the degree of foaming is higher.

[0061] In the example shown, solenoid valves 15 and 30 are permanently in an open or closed state during steam delivery, but in other applications, they can be programmed to open and close cyclically to regulate the level of foam and / or the milk heating temperature.

[0062] The washing program can be executed automatically at the end of each milk processing cycle or a programmed number of milk processing cycles, or it can be executed via user command.

[0063] During the washing process, as mentioned above, the valve device 14 cycles between a first state and a second state to perform pulse rinsing of the mixing chamber 3.

[0064] Different washing programs may have different durations for switching states.

[0065] During the washing program, the solenoid valve 30 on the branch 13a' with the larger minimum channel cross-section and the solenoid valve 15 on the branch 13a'' with the smaller minimum channel cross-section remain closed.

[0066] The normally closed shut-off valve 19 facilitates the delivery of hot water and / or steam toward the second outlet connector 11 and additionally prevents the inflow of hot water and / or steam from the first inlet connector 8 from triggering the Venturi effect in the mixing chamber 3, which would otherwise draw milk from the container 20.

[0067] Therefore, the washing process is performed in combination by a first steam and / or hot water flow from the first inlet connector 8 to the milk outlet opening 7 and a second steam and / or hot water flow from the second inlet connector 9 to the mixing chamber 3 and from the mixing chamber to the milk outlet opening 7.

[0068] In fact, the inlet opening 6 of the mixing chamber 3 is used as an inlet opening for air drawn in by the Venturi effect during the milk processing cycle, and as an inlet opening for hot water and / or steam to enter the mixing chamber 3 during the washing cycle.

[0069] Therefore, coffee machines with economical and simple systems can change the amount of milk foam with extremely high precision, while keeping the emulsifier always clean and efficient.

[0070] Users do not need any special skills to operate successfully, as their participation is limited to selecting the desired bubble level on the dashboard.

[0071] Coffee machines with emulsifiers of this design are easily subject to a variety of modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept; furthermore, all details can be replaced by technically equivalent components.

[0072] In practice, the materials and dimensions used can be determined according to needs and existing technology.

Claims

1. Coffee machine (1) in combination with a milk emulsor (2), wherein the milk emulsor (2) comprises a Venturi effect mixing chamber (3) having a steam inlet opening (4) for inducing a Venturi effect, a milk inlet opening (5) for sucking milk through the Venturi effect, an air inlet opening (6) for sucking air through the Venturi effect, and a milk outlet opening (7), wherein the steam inlet opening (4) is connected to a first inlet connector (8) and the air inlet opening (6) is connected to a second inlet connector (9), wherein the coffee machine (1) has a steam and / or hot water source (24), an air source (16), a first outlet connector (10) connectable with the first inlet connector (8), a second outlet connector (11) connectable with the second inlet connector (9), a first supply conduit (12) in communication with the first outlet connector (10) and a second supply conduit (13) in communication with the second outlet connector (11), the first supply conduit (12) being connected to the steam and / or hot water source (24), the coffee machine (1) being characterized by comprising a valve device (14) which switches between a first state in which the second supply conduit (13) is connected to the air source (16) and a second state in which the second supply conduit (13) is connected to the steam and / or hot water source (24).

2. Coffee machine (1) in combination with a milk emulsifier (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The valve device (14) comprises a three-way solenoid valve (17).

3. Coffee machine (1) in combination with a milk emulsifier (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The three-way solenoid valve (17) is interposed between a first section (13a) of the second conduit (13) connected to the air source (16) and a second section (13b) of the second conduit (13) connected to the second outlet connector (11) and has a first port (13') connected to the first section (13a) of the second conduit (13), a second port (13") connected to the second section (13b) of the second conduit (13) and a third port (13"') connected to the steam and / or hot water source (24).

4. Coffee machine (1) in combination with a milk emulsifier (2) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that, The first inlet connector (8) and the first outlet connector (10) have a first geometric connection axis (L) which is parallel to a second geometric connection axis (L') between the second inlet connector (9) and the second outlet connector (11).

5. Coffee machine (1) in combination with a milk emulsifier (2) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The steam and / or hot water inlet opening (4) and the milk outlet opening (7) are directed along the first geometric connection axis (L), while the air inlet opening (6) and the milk inlet opening (5) are directed radially to the first geometric connection axis (L) and angularly offset therearound.

6. Coffee machine (1) in combination with a milk emulsifier (2) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that, The first inlet connector (8), the second inlet connector (9) and the steam and / or hot water inlet opening (4) are formed in a single block (18) which is removable from the emulsor (2).

7. Coffee machine (1) in combination with a milk emulsifier (2) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that, The first inlet connector (8) comprises a shut-off valve (19) having a preset opening pressure.

8. Coffee machine (1) in combination with a milk emulsifier (2) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that, The milk emulsifier comprises a milk container (20), a milk supply conduit (21) connecting the milk container (20) to the milk inlet opening (5), and a removable lid (22) of the milk container (20), the mixing chamber (3), the first inlet connector (8) and the second inlet connector (9) being mounted in the removable lid.

9. Coffee machine (1) in combination with a milk emulsifier (2) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that, The second supply conduit (13) has at least two branches (13a', 13a''), each equipped with a dedicated opening solenoid valve (14, 15).

10. Coffee machine (1) in combination with a milk emulsifier (2) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that, The coffee machine is adapted to implement at least one milk processing program, in which the valve device (14) remains in the first state, and at least one washing program for the emulsifier (2), in which the valve device (14) is cyclically switched between the first state and the second state.

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