Milk foam preparation device and beverage preparation equipment

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of beverage making equipment, in particular to a milk foam preparation device and beverage making equipment, and aims to solve the problem that an existing milk foam preparation device is poor in structural design. To this end, the milk foam preparation device provided by the present application comprises: a housing in which a first chamber and a second chamber are formed; the foaming component is arranged in the second cavity and is an integrally-formed elastic piece, and the foaming component is provided with a mixing cavity and a first channel, a second channel, a third channel and a fourth channel which communicate with the mixing cavity; wherein the first channel is used for connecting a liquid inlet pipe, the second channel is used for connecting a steam supply pipe, the third channel is used for connecting an air inlet pipe, and the fourth channel is used for connecting a liquid discharge pipe. According to the milk foam preparation device, the integrally-formed foaming component is arranged, independent parts such as a sealing ring needed in a traditional structure are omitted, the number of parts is reduced, and then the complexity and cost of production and assembly can be reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of beverage making equipment technology, specifically providing a milk foam preparation device and beverage making equipment. Background Technology

[0002] With the increasing popularity of coffee culture, using steam to make milk foam has become a common practice in cafes and homes. Traditional milk foam preparation methods typically rely on inserting the steam wand of a coffee machine directly into the milk, manually controlling the position of the wand on the surface to introduce air and create foam. This method is highly dependent on the operator's experience and skill, resulting in inconsistent foam production. For the average user, it is difficult to consistently produce ideal, even, and dense milk foam.

[0003] To address these issues, some integrated or external automatic milk frothers have emerged on the market. These automatic milk frothers typically feature a mixing chamber where steam, air, and milk are mixed to create foam, reducing reliance on operator experience to some extent. However, existing automatic milk frothers still have several shortcomings in practical use: First, their milk outlet tubes are mostly fixed, with no adjustable length or angle, making them difficult to fit different height milk cups and causing inconvenience to users; second, the internal structure of these devices is usually quite complex, with components often secured by screws, making disassembly and assembly difficult. Users cannot thoroughly clean the internal flow channels, and long-term use can lead to milk residue spoilage and bacterial growth, posing a hygiene risk; furthermore, the large number of parts and complex assembly not only increase manufacturing costs but also make maintenance and deep cleaning of the device difficult.

[0004] Therefore, a new technical approach is needed in this field to solve the aforementioned technical problems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application aims to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, namely, to solve the problem of poor structural design of existing milk foam preparation devices.

[0006] In a first aspect, this application provides a milk foam preparation apparatus, comprising:

[0007] The housing has a first chamber and a second chamber inside, the first chamber being used to contain the milk to be foamed;

[0008] A foamed component disposed in the second chamber and the foamed component is an integrally formed elastic element, the foamed component having a mixing chamber and a first channel, a second channel, a third channel and a fourth channel communicating with the mixing chamber;

[0009] The first channel is used to connect to the liquid inlet pipe, the second channel is used to connect to the steam supply pipe, the third channel is used to connect to the air inlet pipe, and the fourth channel is used to connect to the liquid outlet pipe.

[0010] Furthermore, the foamed component also includes:

[0011] A pressure relief chamber is connected to the outlet of the fourth channel, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the pressure relief chamber is larger than that of the fourth channel.

[0012] Furthermore, the housing includes:

[0013] First shell;

[0014] A partition, which is detachably connected to the first housing, closes the opening of the first housing to form the first chamber;

[0015] A second housing is detachably connected to the first housing or the partition, the second housing and the partition together forming the second chamber.

[0016] Furthermore, the milk foam preparation device also includes:

[0017] A support ring is disposed on the second housing;

[0018] The steam supply pipe includes:

[0019] A first steam pipe section is connected to a steam generator. The first steam pipe section extends through the support ring in a first direction into the second chamber and is rotatably mounted on the support ring.

[0020] The second steam pipe section has one end connected to the first steam pipe section and the other end inserted into the second channel along the second direction. The second steam pipe section can rotate around the axis of the support ring with the first steam pipe section and drive the foaming component to rotate synchronously, so that the foaming component can be rotated out of the second chamber.

[0021] Furthermore, the drain pipe includes a first pipe section and a second pipe section, the first pipe section being connected to the fourth channel, and the second pipe section being connected to the first pipe section and extending out of the second chamber; the milk foam preparation device further includes:

[0022] An adjusting pipe is telescopically mounted on the second pipe section to adjust the total length of the second pipe section and the adjusting pipe.

[0023] Furthermore, the milk foam preparation device also includes:

[0024] An elastic bushing is fitted between the second pipe section and the regulating pipe.

[0025] Furthermore, the outer peripheral wall of the elastic bushing is provided with a first annular protrusion and a second annular protrusion. The first annular protrusion and the second annular protrusion are spaced apart along the axial direction of the elastic bushing, and both the first annular protrusion and the second annular protrusion abut against the inner wall of the adjusting tube.

[0026] Furthermore, the outer surface of the housing is provided with a connecting pipe that communicates with the second chamber, and the first pipe section extends into the mixing chamber after passing through the connecting pipe;

[0027] The connecting pipe has a limiting groove along its circumference, and the first pipe segment has a first protrusion adapted to the limiting groove. The first protrusion is located in the limiting groove and can rotate in the limiting groove to control the first pipe segment to rotate along its axis within a preset angle range.

[0028] Furthermore, the milk foam preparation device also includes:

[0029] The first clamping block has a first notch on it;

[0030] The second clamping block engages with the first clamping block to form a clamping cavity. The second clamping block has a second notch. The first notch and the second notch form a mounting hole. The mounting hole passes through the connecting pipe. The second pipe section is fixed in the clamping cavity. The first pipe section passes through the mounting hole and is inserted into the connecting pipe.

[0031] In a second aspect, this application provides a beverage making apparatus, including a milk foam preparation device as described in any one of the second aspects.

[0032] By adopting the above technical solution, the milk foam preparation device provided in this application has the following beneficial effects. First, the highly integrated foaming component combines multiple flow channels and sealing functions into one unit, which not only reduces mold costs and assembly complexity but also reduces potential leakage points and improves the reliability of the device. Second, the screwless, fully snap-fit ​​disassembly design and the completely removable foaming component eliminate cleaning dead corners. Users can easily disassemble all parts in contact with milk for thorough cleaning without tools, effectively preventing bacterial growth and ensuring hygiene and safety. Furthermore, the pressure relief safety structure fundamentally eliminates the risk of steam burns that may result from the nozzle not being installed, enabling the product to meet higher safety standards. In summary, this application achieves significant optimizations in terms of operational flexibility, cleaning convenience, structural integration, and safety of use. Finally, the retractable and swingable drain pipe allows the device to flexibly adapt to milk cups of different heights and positions, improving user convenience and user experience. Attached Figure Description

[0033] The preferred embodiments of this application are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0034] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the milk foam preparation device provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0035] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the milk foam preparation device;

[0036] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the foamed component provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0037] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the foamed component provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0038] Figure 5 This is one of the partial structural schematic diagrams of the milk foam preparation device given in the embodiments of this application, showing the internal structure of the milk foam preparation device;

[0039] Figure 6 This is an exploded structural diagram of the milk foam preparation device provided in the embodiments of this application, showing the assembly relationship of the housing;

[0040] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the drain pipe structure provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0041] Figure 8 This is an exploded structural diagram of the assembly structure at the drain pipe provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0042] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the drain pipe when it is rotated to the first angle according to an embodiment of this application, wherein the first angle is a schematic angle;

[0043] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the drain pipe when it is rotated to the second angle according to an embodiment of this application, wherein the second angle is a schematic angle;

[0044] Figure 11 This is the second partial structural schematic diagram of the milk foam preparation device provided in the embodiments of this application, showing the structure at the connecting pipe;

[0045] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second clamping block provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0046] In the figure, the reference numerals refer to the following:

[0047] 11-First housing, 101-First chamber, 12-Second housing, 102-Second chamber, 13-Partition, 14-Connecting pipe, 141-Limiting groove, 2-Foaming component, 20-Mixing chamber, 21-First channel, 22-Second channel, 23-Third channel, 24-Fourth channel, 25-Pressure relief chamber, 26-Throttling channel, 27-Sealing ring, 3-Liquid inlet pipe, 4-Steam generator, 40-Support ring, 41-Steam supply pipe, 411-First steam pipe section, 412-Second steam pipe section, 5-Inlet pipe, 51-Inlet regulating valve, 6-Drain pipe, 61-First pipe section, 611-First protrusion, 62-Second pipe section, 621-Second protrusion, 622-Annular boss, 7-Elastic bushing, 71-First annular protrusion, 72-Second annular protrusion, 8-Regulating pipe

[0048] 91-First clamping block, 910-First slot, 911-First notch, 92-Second clamping block, 920-Second slot, 921-Second notch. Detailed Implementation

[0049] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art should understand that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the technical principles of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make adjustments as needed to adapt to specific application scenarios.

[0050] It should be noted that in the description of this invention, terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "inner," and "outer," which indicate direction or positional relationships, are based on the direction or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. These are used merely for ease of description and do not indicate or imply that the relevant devices or elements must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention. Furthermore, ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0051] Furthermore, it should be noted that, in the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation" and "connection" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0052] This application provides a milk foam preparation device, referenced... Figure 1 and Figure 2 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the milk foam preparation device provided in this application. Figure 2This is a cross-sectional view of the milk foam preparation device, showing its internal structure.

[0053] Specifically, the milk frothing device has two independent chambers, a first chamber 101 and a second chamber 102, inside its casing. The first chamber 101 stores the milk to be frothed, while the second chamber 102 houses a foaming component 2. This foaming component 2 includes a mixing chamber 20, which is used to mix the milk with gas and create foam. An inlet pipe 3 connects the first chamber 101 to the mixing chamber 20 of the foaming component 2 to deliver the milk to the mixing chamber 20. A steam generator 4 supplies steam to the mixing chamber 20 via a steam supply pipe 41, while an air inlet pipe 5 introduces external air into the mixing chamber 20. During operation, the steam, air, and milk are thoroughly mixed and foamed within the mixing chamber 20, and then discharged through the drain pipe 6. To regulate the air intake, an air intake regulating valve 51 is connected to the air inlet pipe 5. By controlling the amount of external air entering the mixing chamber 20, the gas-liquid mixing ratio is changed, thereby obtaining the desired fineness of the milk foam.

[0054] In one embodiment, in conjunction with reference to Figures 3 to 5 The foamed component 2 is a silicone elastic component made by an integral molding process. The silicone material itself has excellent elasticity, sealing and temperature resistance, and is suitable for various fluid (liquid, steam and gas) transmission scenarios. It can further improve the buffering performance and sealing adaptability of the foamed component 2 and avoid sealing failure caused by hard contact.

[0055] Specifically, the silicone foam component 2 has an integrated structure. Inside the foam component 2, a mixing chamber 20 is formed, and four channels—a first channel 21, a second channel 22, a third channel 23, and a fourth channel 24—extend integrally, each communicating with the mixing chamber 20. During assembly, the liquid inlet pipe 3 is inserted into the first channel 21, the steam supply pipe 41 into the second channel 22, the air inlet pipe 5 into the third channel 23, and the liquid outlet pipe 6 into the fourth channel 24. The inner diameter of the four channels is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the corresponding pipes. Utilizing the elastic deformation capability of the silicone material itself, each pipe, upon insertion, forms an interference fit with the inner wall of the channel, achieving self-sealing. Simultaneously, the four channels extend along different directions of the component, resulting in a rational layout that avoids interference between the pipes after insertion. The overall structure is compact and highly integrated.

[0056] Furthermore, to optimize fluid transmission pressure, improve mixing effect, and enhance discharge efficiency, the first channel 21 connecting the liquid inlet pipe 3 is connected to the mixing chamber 20 via a throttling channel 26, and the third channel 23 connecting the air inlet pipe 5 is also connected to the mixing chamber 20 via a throttling channel 26. The cross-sectional area of ​​the throttling channel 26 is smaller than that of the connected liquid inlet or air inlet channel. According to fluid mechanics principles, when steam, air, or milk flows through this narrowed section, the flow velocity increases and the pressure rises, thus injecting it into the mixing chamber 20 with higher kinetic energy. This promotes intense turbulence and shearing of the three fluids within the mixing chamber 20, helping to break up bubbles into finer, more uniform foam, thereby improving the dense texture of the milk foam. Simultaneously, the fourth channel 24 connecting the drain pipe 6 is also connected to the mixing chamber 20 via a throttling channel 26, ensuring that the prepared milk foam maintains a high flow velocity and pressure during discharge.

[0057] The design of this one-piece molded silicone foam component 2 has the following advantages: First, because the foam component 2 is a one-piece molded structure, the four channels are seamlessly connected to the mixing chamber 20, with no splicing gaps. There is no need to install additional sealing rings 27, gaskets, or other sealing parts at the connections between the channels and the mixing chamber 20, or between each channel and its corresponding pipeline. Relying on the elasticity of the silicone itself and the conformability of the foam structure, a tight seal can be achieved between the pipeline and the channel, and between the channel and the mixing chamber 20, effectively preventing fluid leakage. This also reduces the steps involved in parts procurement and assembly, lowering the overall production cost and assembly complexity of the device. Second, the one-piece molded structure eliminates the need for individual assembly of multiple parts. Once assembled, installation can be completed simply by inserting the liquid inlet pipe 3, steam supply pipe 41, air inlet pipe 5, and liquid outlet pipe 6 into the four channels respectively. There is no need to adjust the position of the seals or tighten the sealing structure. The assembly steps are simplified, the operation difficulty is reduced, and the installation efficiency is improved. At the same time, it avoids the problem of seal failure caused by improper assembly of the seals. In addition, since the component has no extra seals or connectors, the surface is smooth and there are no splicing gaps, and the fluid is not easy to remain on the surface of the component. During cleaning, only the mixing chamber 20 and the four channels need to be rinsed. There is no need to disassemble the seals and other parts, which can reduce the cleaning steps. At the same time, the silicone material has good stain resistance and easy cleaning, and it is not easy to leave stains after cleaning.

[0058] In one embodiment, to eliminate the risk of fluid ejection due to accidental detachment or misinstallation of the drain pipe 6, a safety pressure relief structure is further integrated into the internal flow channel of the foaming component 2. Specifically, a pressure relief chamber 25 is connected to the outlet of the fourth channel 24 used to connect the drain pipe 6. The cross-sectional area of ​​the pressure relief chamber 25 is larger than that of the fourth channel 24, forming a suddenly expanded cavity structure. Under normal use, the drain pipe 6 is inserted into the fourth channel 24, and the milk foam in the mixing chamber 20 is smoothly discharged through the drain pipe 6. However, when the drain pipe 6 is not installed or is accidentally detached, the outlet of the fourth channel 24 is exposed to the pressure relief chamber 25. At this time, the high-pressure fluid flowing out of the mixing chamber 20 is ejected at high speed through the fourth channel 24 and enters the suddenly expanded pressure relief chamber 25. According to the principles of fluid mechanics, the fluid expands and decelerates rapidly after entering the large cross-section space. Its kinetic energy and pressure are rapidly dissipated during this process. Finally, when it flows out of the outlet of the pressure relief chamber 25, it has become a low-pressure and low-speed state, thus completely avoiding the safety hazards of high-temperature and high-pressure fluid being directly ejected.

[0059] Furthermore, to enhance the sealing performance between the fourth channel 24 and the drain pipe 6, an inwardly protruding annular sealing ring 27 is integrally formed on the inner wall of the fourth channel 24. When the drain pipe 6 is inserted into the fourth channel 24, the inner wall of the drain pipe 6 will fit tightly with the annular sealing ring 27. Without the need for additional sealing ring 27, the sealing reliability of the connection between the fourth channel 24 and the drain pipe 6 can be further improved, effectively preventing the high-pressure fluid after mixing from leaking from the connection.

[0060] In one specific embodiment, in conjunction with the reference Figure 2 and Figure 6 To facilitate easy access and deep cleaning of internal components, the casing adopts a split, detachable structure design. Specifically, the casing includes a first housing 11, a partition 13, and a second housing 12. The first housing 11 has an upward-facing opening for accommodating the milk to be foamed. The partition 13 is detachably connected to the opening of the first housing 11 and closes the opening of the first housing 11 using snap-fit ​​or other detachable connection methods, thus forming a first chamber 101 for holding the milk together with the first housing 11. The second housing 12 is detachably connected to the first housing 11 or the partition 13, and together with the partition 13, forms an independent second chamber 102. The second chamber 102 serves as the installation space for the foaming component 2, providing accommodation and support for components such as the foaming component 2, the steam supply pipe 41, and the air inlet pipe 5.

[0061] This split-type casing structure divides the casing into three independent parts: the first casing 11, the partition 13, and the second casing 12. The parts are connected in a detachable manner, allowing users to completely disassemble the casing without using any tools. This enables the cleaning of the inner wall of the first chamber 101, the foaming component 2 in the second chamber 102, and all the pipes. This effectively prevents milk residue and bacterial growth, and solves the problems of existing one-piece molded casings having many cleaning dead spots and inconvenient maintenance.

[0062] In one specific embodiment, to facilitate convenient handling and deep cleaning of the foamed component 2, the device further incorporates a rotatable steam supply pipe 41 structure and a corresponding support ring 40. Specifically, refer to... Figure 5 A support ring 40 is provided on the second housing 12 to provide rotational support for the steam supply pipe 41. The steam supply pipe 41 adopts a segmented design, including a first steam pipe segment 411 and a second steam pipe segment 412. The first steam pipe segment 411 is connected to the steam generator 4 of the beverage making equipment and extends into the second housing 12 through the support ring 40 in a first direction. It is rotatably fitted with the support ring 40, allowing the first steam pipe segment 411 to rotate freely around its own axis within the support ring 40. One end of the second steam pipe segment 412 is connected to the first steam pipe segment 411, and the other end is bent in a second direction and inserted into the second channel 22 of the foaming member 2, wherein the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other. Furthermore, the second steam pipe segment 412 and the second channel 22 of the foaming member 2 are fixedly connected by an interference fit to ensure synchronous movement of the two. Based on this structure, when the first steam pipe section 411 rotates around the axis of the support ring 40, it will drive the second steam pipe section 412 to rotate synchronously around the same axis, thereby driving the foaming component 2 to rotate synchronously around the rotation axis of the second steam pipe section 412. When cleaning is required, the user only needs to remove the first housing 11 and the partition 13, and then rotate the first steam pipe section 411 to unscrew the entire foaming component 2 from the second chamber 102 to the outside of the chamber, facilitating thorough manual cleaning or scrubbing.

[0063] The rotary steam supply pipe 41 structure provided in this application allows the foaming component 2 to be removed from the second chamber 102 through a simple rotation operation, solving the problem of the foaming component 2 being deeply buried inside the casing and difficult to access and clean in traditional integrated structures. Users can expose the core foaming component to the field of vision without disassembling complex pipe connections, enabling thorough cleaning from all angles. This effectively prevents bacterial growth and odor caused by long-term residue of milk in the mixing chamber 20 and flow channels.

[0064] Furthermore, in conjunction with references Figure 2 and Figure 7The drain pipe 6 is divided into a first section 61 and a second section 62. The first section 61 is connected to the mixing chamber 20 to output milk foam. One end of the second section 62 is connected to the first section 61, and the other end extends to the outside of the machine housing. An adjusting tube 8 is fitted onto the second section 62. The adjusting tube 8 can slide axially relative to the second section 62, thereby adjusting the overall extension length of the drain pipe 6 to meet the operational needs of different usage scenarios. For example, to accommodate milk cups of different heights, the user can pull the adjusting tube 8 to slide it axially along the second section 62 according to the actual height of the milk cup, to accommodate various cup shapes such as tall cups and short cups. To adapt to different beverage preparation positions, the adjusting tube 8 can be extended and retracted to a suitable length, making it convenient for users to accurately inject milk foam into coffee cups or other containers in countertop operation or embedded installation scenarios.

[0065] In one specific embodiment, in conjunction with the reference Figure 8 To enable flexible sliding and stable positioning of the regulating pipe 8 on the second pipe section 62, an elastic bushing 7 is provided between the second pipe section 62 and the regulating pipe 8. Specifically, the elastic bushing 7 is fitted onto the outer peripheral wall of the second pipe section 62, and the regulating pipe 8 is fitted onto the outer peripheral wall of the elastic bushing 7. Further, the outer peripheral wall of the elastic bushing 7 is provided with a first annular protrusion 71 and a second annular protrusion 72 spaced apart along the axial direction. Both annular protrusions elastically abut against the inner wall of the regulating pipe 8. When the user manually pushes or pulls the regulating pipe 8, the inner wall of the regulating pipe 8 compresses the annular protrusions, causing them to elastically deform and forming a controllable sliding friction between them. When the regulating pipe 8 stops at the target position, this friction is sufficient to overcome gravity or other slight external forces, allowing the regulating pipe 8 to stably maintain its current extension length. Through this spaced protrusion structure, the contact area between the regulating pipe 8 and the elastic bushing 7 during sliding can be reduced, thereby reducing the sliding friction and making the adjustment operation smoother. Meanwhile, the elastic deformation of the annular protrusion provides sufficient radial clamping force, ensuring that the adjusting tube 8 can be stably positioned in the desired location after sliding. Compared with the existing technology that often uses threaded locking or additional snap-fit ​​mechanisms to fix the telescopic tube, the elastic bushing 7 combined with the double annular protrusion structure used in this embodiment avoids the scratching noise that may be generated by metal snap-fits or screws during use, as well as the problem of inconvenient disassembly and assembly.

[0066] In one specific embodiment, in conjunction with the reference Figures 7 to 11To allow for flexible adjustment of the milk outlet angle of the drain pipe 6, a connecting pipe 14 communicating with the second chamber 102 is provided on the outer surface of the housing. This connecting pipe 14 is mainly used to install the first pipe section 61 and provide rotational support. Specifically, the first pipe section 61 extends into the mixing chamber 20 after passing through the connecting pipe 14. To allow the second pipe section 62 to swing to adapt to different angles of milk cup placement, an arc-shaped limiting groove 141 is provided on the connecting pipe 14 along its circumference. Correspondingly, a first protrusion 611 adapted to the limiting groove 141 is provided on the outer wall of the first pipe section 61. During assembly, the first protrusion 611 is accommodated in the limiting groove 141. When the user applies external force to rotate the first pipe section 61, the first protrusion 611 slides in the limiting groove 141, thereby guiding the first pipe section 61 to rotate around its own axis within a certain angle range. The arc length of the limiting groove 141 determines the maximum rotation angle of the first pipe section 61, thereby controlling the swing range of the second pipe section 62 and the regulating pipe 8 within a preset reasonable range to meet the requirements of milk outlet angle under different usage scenarios.

[0067] In one specific embodiment, to achieve a stable installation and convenient disassembly of the drain pipe 6 to the housing, the milk foam preparation device is equipped with two interlocking clamps. Specifically, the first clamp 91 has a first notch 911, and the second clamp 92 has a corresponding second notch 921. The two clamps are detachably interlocked. When the first clamp 91 and the second clamp 92 are interlocked, they together form a clamping cavity for accommodating the second pipe segment 62, and the first notch 911 and the second notch 921 align to form a mounting hole. During assembly, this mounting hole passes through the connecting pipe 14 on the outer surface of the housing, and the first pipe segment 61 passes through the mounting hole and is inserted into the connecting pipe 14, thereby achieving a positioning connection between the first pipe segment 61 and the connecting pipe 14. At the same time, the second pipe segment 62 is accommodated and fixed within the clamping cavity. To further improve the axial fixation reliability of the second pipe segment 62, a second protrusion 621 is provided on the outer wall of the second pipe segment 62. Correspondingly, a first slot 910 is provided on the first clamping block 91, and a second slot 920 is provided on the second clamping block 92. When the two clamping blocks are engaged, a portion of the second protrusion 621 is inserted into the first slot 910, and the other portion is inserted into the second slot 920, thereby firmly locking the second pipe segment 62 in the clamping cavity and preventing it from moving axially. In addition, an annular boss 622 is provided on the outer periphery of the first pipe segment 61, and the end of the connecting pipe 14 abuts against the annular boss 622 to achieve axial positioning of the first pipe segment 61 and ensure accurate and stable insertion depth.

[0068] Compared to existing technologies, this clamping block installation structure offers the following advantages. First, its screwless snap-fit ​​design allows users to manually engage and disengage the two clamps without any tools, enabling quick assembly and disassembly of the drain pipe 6 and greatly facilitating daily cleaning and maintenance. Second, the engagement of the second protrusion 621 with the slot provides double axial locking for the second pipe segment 62. Furthermore, the abutment between the annular boss 622 and the end of the connecting pipe 14 provides precise axial positioning for the first pipe segment 61, ensuring its constant position in the inserted state.

[0069] Through the above structural design, the milk foam preparation device provided in this application has the following beneficial effects. First, the highly integrated foaming component 2 combines multiple flow channels with sealing functions, which not only reduces mold costs and assembly complexity but also reduces potential leakage points and improves the reliability of the device. Second, the screwless, fully snap-fit ​​disassembly design and the completely removable foaming component 2 completely eliminate cleaning dead corners. Users can easily disassemble all parts in contact with milk for thorough cleaning without tools, effectively preventing bacterial growth and ensuring hygiene and safety. Furthermore, the pressure relief safety structure fundamentally eliminates the risk of steam burns that may occur due to the nozzle not being installed, enabling the product to meet higher safety standards. Finally, the retractable and swingable drain pipe 6 allows the device to flexibly adapt to milk cups of different heights and positions, greatly improving the user's ease of operation and user experience. In summary, this application has achieved significant optimizations in terms of operational flexibility, cleaning convenience, structural integration, and safety of use.

[0070] This application also provides a beverage preparation device, including the milk foam preparation apparatus as described above. Because the milk foam preparation apparatus has the aforementioned beneficial effects, the beverage preparation equipment integrating this milk foam preparation apparatus achieves a comprehensive improvement in operational convenience, hygiene and safety, and milk foam quality.

[0071] In one specific embodiment, the beverage making device is a coffee machine. By integrating the aforementioned milk foam preparation device, the coffee machine can conveniently produce consistently high-quality milk foam while preparing espresso, meeting users' needs for making specialty coffees such as cappuccinos and lattes.

[0072] The technical solutions of this application have been described above with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that the scope of protection of this application is obviously not limited to these specific embodiments. Without departing from the principles of this application, those skilled in the art can make equivalent changes or substitutions to the relevant technical features, and the technical solutions after these changes or substitutions will all fall within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A milk foam preparation device, characterized in that, include: The housing has a first chamber (101) and a second chamber (102) formed therein, the first chamber (101) being used to contain milk to be foamed; A foamed component (2) is disposed in the second chamber (102) and the foamed component (2) is an integrally formed elastic element. The foamed component (2) has a mixing chamber (20) and a first channel (21), a second channel (22), a third channel (23) and a fourth channel (24) communicating with the mixing chamber (20). The first channel (21) is used to connect to the liquid inlet pipe (3), the second channel (22) is used to connect to the steam supply pipe (41), the third channel (23) is used to connect to the air inlet pipe (5), and the fourth channel (24) is used to connect to the liquid outlet pipe (6).

2. The milk foam preparation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The foamed component (2) further includes: A pressure relief chamber (25) is connected to the outlet of the fourth channel (24), and the cross-sectional area of ​​the pressure relief chamber (25) is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the fourth channel (24).

3. The milk foam preparation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The housing includes: First shell (11); A partition (13) is detachably connected to the first housing (11) to close the opening of the first housing (11) thereby forming the first chamber (101). The second housing (12) is detachably connected to the first housing (11) or the partition (13), and the second housing (12) and the partition (13) together form the second chamber (102).

4. The milk foam preparation device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The milk foam preparation device further includes: A support ring (40) is disposed on the second housing (12); The steam supply pipe (41) includes: The first steam pipe section (411) is connected to the steam generator (4). The first steam pipe section (411) extends through the support ring (40) in a first direction into the second chamber (102) and is rotatably mounted on the support ring (40). The second steam pipe section (412) is connected at one end to the first steam pipe section (411) and the other end is inserted into the second channel (22) along the second direction. The second steam pipe section (412) can rotate around the axis of the support ring (40) with the first steam pipe section (411) and drive the foaming component (2) to rotate synchronously so that the foaming component (2) can be rotated out of the second chamber (102).

5. The milk foam preparation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The drain pipe includes a first pipe section (61) and a second pipe section (62). The first pipe section (61) is connected to the fourth channel (24), and the second pipe section (62) is connected to the first pipe section (61) and extends out of the second chamber (102). The milk foam preparation device further includes: An adjusting pipe (8) is telescopically mounted on the second pipe section (62) to adjust the total length of the second pipe section (62) and the adjusting pipe (8).

6. The milk foam preparation device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The milk foam preparation device further includes: An elastic bushing (7) is fitted between the second pipe section (62) and the regulating pipe (8).

7. The milk foam preparation device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The outer peripheral wall of the elastic bushing (7) is provided with a first annular protrusion (71) and a second annular protrusion (72). The first annular protrusion (71) and the second annular protrusion (72) are spaced apart along the axial direction of the elastic bushing (7), and both the first annular protrusion (71) and the second annular protrusion (72) abut against the inner wall of the adjusting tube (8).

8. The milk foam preparation device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The outer surface of the housing is provided with a connecting pipe (14) that communicates with the second chamber (102), and the first pipe section (61) extends into the mixing chamber (20) after passing through the connecting pipe (14). The connecting pipe (14) has a limiting groove (141) along its circumference. The first pipe segment (61) is provided with a first protrusion (611) that is adapted to the limiting groove (141). The first protrusion (611) is located in the limiting groove (141) and can rotate in the limiting groove (141) to control the first pipe segment (61) to rotate along its axis within a preset angle range.

9. The milk foam preparation device according to claim 8, characterized in that, The milk foam preparation device further includes: The first clamping block (91) has a first notch (911) on it. The second clamping block (92) engages with the first clamping block (91) to form a clamping cavity. The second clamping block (92) is provided with a second notch (921). The first notch (911) and the second notch (921) form an installation hole. The installation hole passes through the connecting pipe (14). The second pipe section (62) is fixed in the clamping cavity. The first pipe section (61) passes through the installation hole and is inserted into the connecting pipe (14).

10. A beverage making device, characterized in that, Includes a milk foam preparation device as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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