Milk module for producing milk foam or milk drinks, preferably for installation in a coffee machine

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a milk module for producing milk foam or milk drinks, preferably for installation in a coffee machine according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Coffee machines with integrated modules for producing milk foam or for heating milk are known to be built in a wide variety of designs. They enable the automatic production of both coffee, such as espresso, and mixed drinks made from coffee with milk or milk foam, especially cappuccino. Coffee machines are usually equipped with a cleaning device that automatically cleans the machine periodically during operation. For compact coffee machines, it is difficult to incorporate such a cleaning device due to the space requirements. A coffee machine with a cleaning module is disclosed, for example, in EP2078481 A1.

[0003] The invention is based on the object of avoiding these disadvantages and of creating a coffee machine of the type mentioned at the outset which, with a simple structure and easy handling, can perform the above-mentioned functions, in particular with regard to cleaning, with the smallest possible space requirement.

[0004] This object is achieved according to the invention according to the features of claim 1.

[0005] According to the invention, the cleaning container contains a device with a water supply channel, a defined opening for receiving a cleaning agent, and an outlet opening. Water can thus be directed through this supply channel into this opening, where the cleaning agent can be dissolved, emulsified with the water, and filled into the cleaning container. This enables easy handling for cleaning and precise dosing of the cleaning agent, with cleaning tablets being particularly preferred for this purpose.

[0006] The invention provides for the milk container or cleaning container to be connected to the machine's working circuit via a suction hose that is mounted in the upper area of ​​the refrigerator compartment and can be pivoted forwards or backwards and hangs freely downwards. The pivoting nature of the suction hose allows it to be inserted or removed from the container independently, without the operator having to touch it during the exchange process.

[0007] It is advantageous to design the milk module as an independent unit with a connecting means, preferably provided as a plug-in coupling. The milk module can be easily mounted in a coffee machine housing, and the milk outlet can be arranged at the coffee outlet.

[0008] With the construction according to the invention, a considerable space saving can be achieved because after removing the milk container from the refrigerator box, the installation space occupied by it becomes available for accommodating the cleaning container, so that no additional space is required for the latter.

[0009] The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawing. In the drawings: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a coffee machine with the milk module, the coffee module not being shown; Fig. 2 a perspective side view of the milk module according to Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 a section of the plug-in coupling on the top of the milk module; Fig. 4 the refrigerator box of the milk module after Fig. 2 before inserting a container; Fig. 5 the refrigerator box of the milk module after Fig. 2 when inserting the milk container; Fig. 6 a perspective view of a cleaning container for the milk module according to Fig. 2 ; and Fig. 7 a diagram of the hydraulic circuit of the milk module according to Fig. 2 .

[0010] The Fig. 1 The coffee machine 1 shown with a housing 3 is used for the automatic production of coffee or coffee-based beverages, as well as mixed beverages made from coffee with milk or milk foam. It consists of a coffee module for producing coffee, of which only the openings 3' in the housing 3 for installation are illustrated, and a milk module 2 for preparing milk or milk foam, which can be installed independently of one another in the common housing 3, side by side, in a space-saving manner. The coffee module 1 itself consists of conventional components and is not explained in more detail. Only a drip tray 3" is shown at the front of the housing 3, onto which a cup or the like can be placed for pouring coffee and / or milk or milk foam.

[0011] The milk module 2, which can be installed in the housing 3, is equipped with a refrigerator box 4, whose cooling chamber 5 can accommodate a milk container 6. The optionally lockable cooling chamber 5 is easily accessible through a cabinet door 7 located at the front of the machine. Thus, after opening this cabinet door 7, the milk container 6 can be placed into or removed from the cooling chamber 5 of the refrigerator box 4. The cooling chamber 5 is designed so that the milk container 6 fits into it with almost no play.

[0012] As from Fig. 2 As can be seen, the milk module 2 is designed according to the invention as an independent unit which comprises a cooling chamber 5 connected to a cooling unit 4' for receiving the milk container 6, a feed pump, a boiler 26 for generating the steam, a device 24 for heating or generating the milk foam and a connecting means by which the heated milk or the generated milk foam can be conveyed through a line to the coffee outlet on the coffee machine.

[0013] In addition, this milk module 2 includes an electronic control unit 18, unspecified cables and invisible plug connections on the rear.

[0014] According to Fig. 3 The connecting means is advantageously formed as a plug-in coupling 33 with two plug-in sleeves 36, 37, preferably arranged axially parallel to one another, into which the supply and output lines 39, 40 can be inserted in a sealing manner and with optimized dead space. One plug-in sleeve 36, 37 is arranged protruding from a plug-in housing 2' surrounding the refrigerator box 4, to which the output line 40 in the coffee machine 1 can be coupled.

[0015] The plug-in coupling 33 has a connecting piece 35, which is provided at both ends with a plug-in sleeve 36 and 37, respectively, wherein the connecting piece 35 is attached to the housing 3. At the rear, these plug-in sleeves are preferably connected to a hose bend 41.

[0016] Once the milk module is installed in the housing 3, it is only necessary to connect the output line 40 to the plug-in coupling 36. The plug-in coupling 33 is characterized by its very simple design and safe handling. Of course, other coupling types could also be used.

[0017] Fig. 4 und Fig. 5 illustrate an intake hose 11 which, according to the invention, is mounted in the upper region of the refrigerator box 4 so that it can be pivoted forwards or backwards and is freely suspended downwards. The intake hose 11 is held rotatably by a pivot drive 12 which is preferably mounted in the upper region of the refrigerator box 4 and is preferably manually operable. For this purpose, a locking point is provided at a joint 13 of the pivot drive 12, through which the intake hose 11 protrudes in a locked manner from the cooling chamber 5 when the refrigerator is open and after the milk container 6 has been removed. In this forward-pivoted position 11', the intake hose can be inserted from above into the milk container 6 or into a cleaning container 14 when it is placed in the cooling chamber 5. This intake hose is thus integrated into the cooling chamber 5 in a space-saving manner.

[0018] When reinserting the milk container, the intake hose 11 is inserted through the opening 10 of the milk container 4 without touching it. Once the milk container is placed in the refrigerator compartment 4, the intake hose is directed downward again so that its lower end extends almost to the bottom of the respective container. The milk container 6 can also be closed with a lid 8.

[0019] Within the scope of the invention, the milk container 6 can be replaced by a cleaning container 14. This eliminates the additional installation space otherwise required for the cleaning container or the like, thus enabling a reduced dimensioning of the coffee machine.

[0020] Fig. 6 shows a particularly suitable cleaning container 14, which is advantageously dimensioned with the same shape and external dimensions as the milk container 6. In contrast to the latter, however, this cleaning container contains a device 15 with a water supply channel 17, a defined opening 16' for receiving a cleaning agent, and an outlet opening 17'.

[0021] Conveniently, the water supply channel 17 arranged in the upper part of the container is guided tangentially into this cylindrical, top-accessible opening 16', into which at least one cleaning tablet 16 can be inserted as a soluble cleaning agent. It is preferably annular and provided with a central bore so that it can be positioned and detected with almost no play in the opening 16' by the centering pin 46.

[0022] To dissolve the tablets, water is supplied from the refrigerator box 4 into the water supply channel 17 tangentially to the tablets 16, and the water with the dissolved tablet flows out through the outlet opening 17, collects in the cleaning container 14 and is from there fed into the milk module through the suction hose 11 inserted into the cleaning container.

[0023] Fig. 7shows a schematic of the working circuit of the milk module 2, which is delimited by the dashed lines 19. The refrigerator box 4 with the milk container 6 and the cleaning container 14 is indicated by dashed lines 20. For the milk supply, the intake hose 11 is connected to a heating chamber of the device 24 via a line 21a, a two-way valve 22, an air intake valve 23, and a feed pump 42. The latter can also be connected to the boiler 26 and a connecting valve 27 for the steam supply. An external water tank 28 is connected to the boiler 26 via a filter 29 and a water pump 25.

[0024] For the periodic cleaning process of the milk module 2, the cleaning container 14 is placed in the cooling chamber 5. The suction hose 11 therein is connected to a line 21b with the two-way valves 30 and 32, respectively. This allows the heating chamber of the device 24 and the feed pump 42 with the associated lines to be rinsed.

[0025] Also shown is the plug-in coupling 33 and the outlet line 40, which leads to a cup 44 or the like on the drip tray 3" for filling with milk or milk foam.

[0026] The invention is sufficiently demonstrated by the exemplary embodiment explained above. However, it could of course also be disclosed in other variants. For example, the connecting means for conveying the heated milk or the generated milk foam from the milk module to the outlet on the coffee machine could be provided by a method other than a plug-in coupling, such as a hose connection. In principle, an outlet line (40) for each coffee machine module could also be provided on each side of the milk module.

Claims

1. A milk module for generating milk foam or milk beverages, preferably for installing into a coffee machine, with a milk container (6), a conveyor pump, and a device (24) for heating milk or for generating the milk foam or other milk beverages, wherein a cleaning system is integrated in the milk module designed as an independent unit, by means of which module a cleaning process is made possible in particular by the conveyor pump (42), the device (24) for heating or for generating the milk foam as well as the input or output line (39, 40), for this purpose, instead of the milk container (6), a cleaning container (14) with a cleaning agent can be inserted into the cooling chamber (5), characterised in that a device (15) with a water supply channel (17), a defined opening (16') for receiving a cleaning agent, in particular a tablet, and an outlet opening (17') is contained in the cleaning container (14), by means of which water can be guided through this supply channel (17) into this opening (16') and into which the cleaning agent, in particular the tablet, is dissolved and can flow into the cleaning container (14), emulsified with the water, via the outlet opening (17').

2. The milk module according to claim 1, characterised in that the water supply channel (17) is guided tangentially into this cylindrical opening (16'), in which at least one cleaning tablet (16) can be positioned and detected as soluble cleaning agent.

3. The milk module according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that a suction hose (11) is provided in the region of the cool box (4), which hose is housed pivotable forwards or backwards, and hanging freely downwards, and which hose can be inserted contactlessly in the forward-pivoted position (11') from the top into the milk container (6) or into the cleaning container (14) when inserting same.

4. The milk module according to claim 3, characterised in that the suction hose (11) can be rotated by a swivel drive (12) which can be housed in the region of the cool box (4) and actuated preferably manually.

5. The milk module according to claim 4, characterised in that the swivel drive (12) is provided on its joint (13) with a detent position in which, after removing the milk container (6) or the cleaning container (14) forwards out of the cool box (4), the suction hose (11) projects locked in one position (11').

6. The milk module according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that, when inserting the milk container (6) or cleaning container (14) into the cool box (4), the suction hose (11) pivots due to the swivel drive (12) until it is again directed downwards, in order that it extends with its bottom end approximately as far as the respective bottom of the container.

7. The milk module according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the milk module (2) is designed as an independent unit and comprises a connection means, by which the heated milk or the generated milk foam can be conveyed through at least one discharge line (40) to the coffee outlet in the coffee machine.

8. The milk module according to claim 7, characterised in that the connection means is formed by a socket attachment (33) with two sliding socket joints (36, 37) arranged preferably axially parallel to one another, into which the input or output line (39, 40) are inserted in sealing manner.

9. The milk module according to claim 8, characterised in that the one sliding socket joint (36, 37) is arranged projecting to a rack (2') surrounding the cool box (4), to which socket joint the output line (40) in the coffee machine (1) can be coupled.