A yogurt maker

Abstract

The present invention relates to a yogurt maker (1) comprising a body (2); at least one receptacle (3) which is disposed in the body (2) and wherein the fermentation process occurs; a lid (4) which is provided on the body so as to eliminate the contact between the receptacle (3) and the outer environment; at least one heater (5) which is provided on the body (2); and a pH sensor (11) which is provided in the body (2).

Description

[0001] A YOGURT MAKER

[0002] The present invention relates to a yogurt maker wherein the fermentation is controlled.

[0003] Today, yogurt is a foodstuff which is often consumed in almost every household. Yogurt is often produced by boiling and fermenting milk at home. Since the boiling process and fermentation temperature of the milk is important for the quality of yogurt, the process must be carried out under constant observation. This situation causes a waste of time for consumers and makes the process difficult. Therefore, automatic yogurt makers are frequently used today. Since yogurt is consumed daily, especially in families with small children, the yogurt makers become very useful. The yogurt makers provide the user with functions such as heating, cooling, keeping warm, time setting, automatic termination, etc. However, the moisture generated in the environment during the yogurt fermentation process condenses in the yogurt maker and causes the formation of water droplets in the yogurt maker. During the fermentation process and when the user accesses the yogurt maker, the water droplets drip and come into contact with the yogurt again.

[0004] In the state of the art Chinese Utility Model Document No. CN2158864, a yogurt maker is disclosed, comprising a blowing member.

[0005] In the state of the art Japanese Patent Document No. JP08110054, a method for fermentation of milk to produce yogurt is disclosed.

[0006] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a yogurt maker wherein the moisture generated during the fermentation process is efficiently removed away from the environment.

[0007] The yogurt maker realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a body; at least one receptacle which is disposed in the body and wherein the fermentation process occurs; a lid which is provided on the body so as to eliminate the contact between the receptacle and the outer environment; at least one heater which is provided on the body; and a pH sensor which is provided in the body. The receptacle is provided on the body. By means of the heater, the material in the receptacle is heated. By means of the pH sensor provided on the receptacle, the pH value of the material added into the receptacle is measured. The operation time of the yogurt maker is determined depending on the data received from the pH sensor. By means of the data received from the pH sensor, yogurt with the consistency desired by the user is made.

[0008] The yogurt maker of the present invention comprises

[0009] - a recess which is provided on the lid, and

[0010] - a carrier body which is disposed in the recess and which has at least housing wherein a desiccant material is placed.

[0011] By means of the desiccant material on the carrier body, the water vapor generated during the yogurt fermentation process is retained in the desiccant material. The carrier body comprises at least one housing wherein the desiccant material is placed. The carrier body has a grilled body comprising openings so as to enable the water vapor to directly contact the desiccant material in the housing.

[0012] In an embodiment of the present invention, the yogurt maker comprises at least one blowing member which is disposed on the lid and which delivers the air taken from the outer environment into the receptacle, and a control unit which operates the blowing member after the fermentation process is completed. In this embodiment, the blowing member is preferably disposed at the center of the lid and the carrier body is manufactured in a circular form so as to completely surround the blowing member. The blowing member transfers the air from the outer environment through an opening which opens from the lid to the outer environment.

[0013] In an embodiment of the present invention, the yogurt maker comprises a humidity sensor which is disposed in the body and the control unit which controls the blowing member depending on the data received from the humidity sensor. In this embodiment, the blowing member is preferably a variable speed fan. The control unit operates the blowing member when the value received from the humidity sensor reaches a limit value predetermined by the manufacturer. The blowing member is operated at the minimum speed at the first stage, and the values received from the humidity sensor are monitored by the control unit, and the speed of the blowing member is changed by the control unit depending on the change in the humidity amount. Thus, the water vapor generated in the environment during the entire fermentation process is removed away from the yogurt.

[0014] In an embodiment of the present invention, the yogurt maker comprises a filter which is disposed on the lid and which filters the air guided into the receptacle by the blowing member. The filter comprises a permeable filter fabric which is suitable for contact with food stuffs.

[0015] In an embodiment of the present invention, the yogurt maker comprises at least one claw which is provided on the lid and which enables the carrier body to be detachably attached onto the lid. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the carrier body and the filter are engaged with the claw, thus enabling both the filter and the carrier body to be taken out of the yogurt maker for cleaning purposes.

[0016] In an embodiment of the present invention, the yogurt maker comprises the desiccant material which is zeolite or silica gel or super absorbent polymer.

[0017] By means of the present invention, the water vapor generated in the environment during the yogurt fermentation process is efficiently removed, and the formation of water droplets in the yogurt maker is prevented.

[0018] The yogurt maker realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[0019] Figure 1 - is the perspective view of the yogurt maker.

[0020] Figure 2 - is the perspective view of the yogurt maker when the lid is open.

[0021] Figure 3 - is the perspective view of the lid, the carrier body and the filter.

[0022] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

[0023] 1. Yogurt maker

[0024] 2. Body

[0025] 3. Receptacle

[0026] 4. Lid

[0027] 5. Heater 6. Recess

[0028] 7. Housing

[0029] 8. Carrier body

[0030] 9. Blowing member

[0031] 10. Control unit

[0032] 11. pH sensor

[0033] 12. Humidity sensor

[0034] 13. Filter

[0035] 14. Claw

[0036] The yogurt maker (1) comprises a body (2); at least one receptacle (3) which is disposed in the body (2) and wherein the fermentation process occurs; a lid (4) which is provided on the body so as to eliminate the contact between the receptacle (3) and the outer environment; at least one heater (5) which is provided on the body (2); and a pH sensor (11) which is provided in the body (2). The receptacle (3) is provided on the body (2). By means of the lid (4) provided on the body (2), the contact between the receptacle (3) and the outer environment is eliminated during the process. The heater (5) provided on the body (2) heats the ingredients put into the receptacle (3). By means of the pH sensor (11), the taste and the consistency of the yogurt are detected, and the heater (5) is operated depending on the data received from the pH sensor (11).

[0037] The yogurt maker (1) of the present invention comprises

[0038] - a recess (6) which is provided on the lid (4), and

[0039] - a carrier body (8) which is disposed in the recess (6) and which has at least housing (7) wherein a desiccant material is placed.

[0040] By means of the desiccant material on the carrier body (8), the water vapor generated during the yogurt fermentation process is retained in the desiccant material. The carrier body (8) comprises at least one housing (9) wherein the desiccant material is placed. In an embodiment of the present invention, the yogurt maker (1) comprises at least one blowing member (9) which is disposed on the lid (4) and which delivers the air taken from the outer environment into the receptacle (3), and a control unit (10) which operates the blowing member (9) after the fermentation process is completed. In this embodiment, the blowing member (9) is preferably disposed at the center of the lid (4) and the carrier body (8) is positioned so as to surround the blowing member (9). Thus, when the blowing member (9) is operated, the water vapor generated in the receptacle (3) due to the fermentation process is sucked into the blowing member (9), and the water vapor is enabled to get in contact with the desiccant material in the carrier body (8). As the water vapor is absorbed by the desiccant material, condensation on the lid (4) is prevented, and the user is prevented from being exposed to water droplets generated on the lid (4) after the fermentation is completed.

[0041] In an embodiment of the present invention, the yogurt maker (1) comprises a humidity sensor (12) which is disposed in the body (2) and the control unit (10) which controls the blowing member (9) depending on the data received from the humidity sensor (12). In this embodiment, the blowing member (9) is preferably a variable speed fan. The control unit (10) operates the blowing member (9) when the value received from the humidity sensor (12) reaches a limit value predetermined by the manufacturer. The values received from the humidity sensor (12) are monitored by the control unit (10), and the speed of the blowing member (9) is changed by the control unit (10) depending on the change in the humidity amount. Thus, the water vapor generated in the environment during the entire fermentation process is removed away from the yogurt. By preventing the water vapor from condensing on the lid (4) and dripping on the yogurt again, yogurt with a desired consistency is made.

[0042] In an embodiment of the present invention, the yogurt maker (1) comprises a filter (13) which is disposed on the lid (4) and which filters the air guided into the receptacle (3) by the blowing member (9). By means of the filter (13), the dust in the air received from the outer environment is enabled to be retained by the filter (13) without getting in contact with yogurt. In an embodiment of the present invention, the yogurt maker (1) comprises at least one claw (14) which is provided on the lid (4) and which enables the carrier body (8) to be detachably attached onto the lid (4). By detachably attaching the carrier body (8) onto the lid (4), the user can take the carrier body (8) out of the yogurt maker (1) after the fermentation process is completed, and enable the desiccant material in the carrier body

[0043] (10) to be regenerated. After the desiccant material is regenerated, the carrier body (8) is engaged with the claws (14) on the lid (4) and placed into the yogurt maker (1).

[0044] In an embodiment of the present invention, the yogurt maker (1) comprises the desiccant material which is zeolite or silica gel or super absorbent polymer. By means of the present invention, the humidity generated in the yogurt maker (1) during the yogurt fermentation process is efficiently removed, thus preventing the formation of condensation on the lid and providing ease of use such that yogurt with desired consistency is obtained.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A yogurt maker (1) comprising a body (2); at least one receptacle (3) which is disposed in the body (2) and wherein the fermentation process occurs; a lid (4) which is provided on the body so as to eliminate the contact between the receptacle (3) and the outer environment; at least one heater (5) which is provided on the body (2); and a pH sensor (11) which is provided in the body (2), characterized by- a recess (6) which is provided on the lid (4), and- a carrier body (8) which is disposed in the recess (6) and which has at least housing (7) wherein a desiccant material is placed.

2. A yogurt maker (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by at least one blowing member (9) which is disposed on the lid (4) and which delivers the air taken from the outer environment into the receptacle (3), and a control unit (10) which operates the blowing member (9) after the fermentation process is completed.

3. A yogurt maker (1) as in Claim 2, characterized by a humidity sensor (12) which is disposed in the body (2) and the control unit (10) which controls the blowing member (9) depending on the data received from the humidity sensor (12).

4. A yogurt maker (1) as in any Claim 3 or Claim 4, characterized by a filter (13) which is disposed on the lid (4) and which filters the air guided into the receptacle (3) by the blowing member (11).

5. A yogurt maker (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by at least one claw (14) which is provided on the lid (4) and which enables the carrier body (8) to be detachably attached onto the lid (4).

6. A yogurt maker (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the desiccant material which is zeolite or silica gel or super absorbent polymer.7

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