Apparatus and method for producing milk-air emulsions

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus for producing a milk-air emulsion, which has at least one steam lance (1) which is designed to be dipped into a vessel (2) filled with milk, wherein with the aid of a steam system (7) and with the aid of an air system (8), steam and air can be conducted through the steam lance (1) into the milk, wherein the steam system (7) and the air system (8) can each be controlled by means of a control device (9) on which a milk-air-emulsion production program is loaded and can be executed, said control device having access to a memory on which at least one or more milk / air emulsion production profiles is / are stored such that the steam and the air can be conducted into the milk in accordance with a selected milk / air emulsion production profile in each case, in order to produce the milk / air emulsion automatically in the vessel (2).

Description

[0001] DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING MILK-AIR EMULSIONS

[0002] The invention relates to a device and a method for producing a milk-air emulsion, preferably a milk foam.

[0003] It is known to create a milk / air emulsion, particularly milk foam, in a container such as a pitcher filled with milk using a steam wand, which may have a steam and air line. To do this, a person preparing the coffee with a coffee machine usually holds the pitcher under the steam wand until the consistency of the milk foam is satisfactory. This is therefore a manual process in which the steam wand is immersed in the pitcher filled with an appropriate amount of milk and foamed using a special process or method – possibly including suitable movements – until the required temperature and consistency are reached.

[0004] DE 602 15 058 T2 discloses a device for producing a milk-air emulsion, which device has at least one steam wand designed to be immersed in a container filled with milk. With the aid of a steam system (7) and an air system, steam and air can be directed through the steam wand into the milk. The steam system and the air system can each be controlled by a control unit. The air supply can be switched on and off during the production of the milk / air emulsion. DE 202018 005 263 U1 discloses an analogous prior art, wherein the air flow rate can be set to a selectable constant value.

[0005] The technological background is also mentioned in DE 10 2017 115 845 B4, DE 10 2018 101 025 A1, WO 2016 / 097923A1, DE 10 2011 077 776 A1 and US 2006 / 0272516 A1.

[0006] The invention aims to simplify the known processes while maintaining the principle of the steam lance immersed in the milk.

[0007] The invention solves this problem by a device having the features of claim 1 and by a method having the features of claim 11. First, a device for producing a milk-air emulsion is provided, which has at least one steam plant designed to be immersed in a vessel filled with milk, wherein, with the aid of a steam system and an air system, steam and air can be directed through the steam plant into the milk. The steam system and the air system can each be controlled by a control unit on which a milk-air emulsion production program is loaded and executable, which has access to a memory on which at least one or more milk / air emulsion production profiles - each in the manner of a control profile - is / are stored, so that the steam and air can be directed into the milk according to a respectively selected milk / air emulsion production profile.to automatically produce the milk / air emulsion in the vessel, wherein the one or more milk / air emulsion production profiles comprise / comprise at least one actuation of the air system during at least two time phases in which a different amount of air is added, each of which is greater than zero.

[0008] In the context of this document, “adding air” means “air flow / time”. According to step d), during the production of the milk, the air flow / time is thus set to at least two values ​​different from zero during at least two points in time or preferably time intervals, for example in a first time phase to a maximum air flow / time that can be generated, for example, with a controllable air pump, and during a second time phase to a value that corresponds to 50% of the maximum air flow s / time that can be generated. These values ​​are to be understood here as purely exemplary. The air flow / time can also be changed during a period of time; for example, this value can be increased or decreased linearly or non-linearly over one or more periods of time starting from a base value.

[0009] By setting the air flow / time to at least two values ​​different from zero during milk production, the desired foam consistency can be achieved much more easily and precisely than if the air addition is constant or if the air addition is only differentiated between phases “on” (and then constant air addition) and “off” (= no air addition, air addition = 0).

[0010] The milk / air emulsion production profile in the sense of a control profile, or in particular the starting point and end of individual temporal phases or control phases, can depend on one or more physically measurable parameters measured during production. It can, in particular, be designed as a temperature-, pressure-, and / or time-dependent control profile.

[0011] This makes it possible, after filling the vessel, to automatically produce a milk / air emulsion in a simple manner according to a flow chart while maintaining the "steam lance principle." Production is preferably terminated after a limit value contained in the chart is reached (e.g., a time limit or a temperature limit). In a very simple configuration, the at least one chart can contain constant steam and air supply quantities over a defined period of time. However, it can also be more complex, which will be explained below using examples.

[0012] Above and below, the terms "milk-air mixture," "milk-air emulsion," and "milk foam" are used synonymously. The term "milk" should not be defined too narrowly. It encompasses, in particular, animal milk as well as fully or partially plant-based milk products (e.g., oat milk and soy milk).

[0013] It is expedient if the air system has at least the following: at least one or more air throttles, at least one controllable air pump connected to the control unit, and an air line. Then, according to one variant, it can be provided, particularly expediently and advantageously, that the at least one air throttle is connected to the control unit and that it is designed as a controllable motor-driven air throttle. According to a further advantageous variant, it can also be provided alternatively or optionally that the delivery rate of the air pump can be automatically changed and adjusted by the control unit. This type of control is simple and reliable. And according to another variant, it can be advantageously and structurally simple for the plurality of air throttles to be designed as static air throttles, to which one or more air selection valves connected to the control unit and controllable by the latter are assigned.The device - in particular a coffee machine with the device - is preferably provided with a display for outputting information during the program sequence and an input unit - e.g. in the form of a touch display - for inputting data, e.g. for pre-selecting and pre-setting the type of milk and the like.

[0014] It can further advantageously be provided that the steam system has at least one steam boiler, at least one controllable steam valve, and a steam line. According to a preferred embodiment, it can be provided that the one or more milk-to-air emulsion generation profiles further comprise at least one temporal phase in which no air is added. It can also be provided that the one or more milk-to-air emulsion generation profiles further comprise at least three temporal phases, in each of which three different amounts of air are added, or that the one or more milk-to-air emulsion generation profiles further comprise at least one temporal phase in which at least one temporal phase in which no steam is added and at least one temporal phase in which steam is added. In this way, a particularly good foam consistency can be achieved in each case.

[0015] It is also possible for the air line and the steam line to flow into a common combined steam-air line, which is guided through the steam lance, which can be immersed in the milk in the vessel.

[0016] However, it is also conceivable that the air line and the steam line are led separately through the steam lance, which can be immersed in the milk in the vessel, or that the air line and the steam line are led separately through the steam lance and an air lance, each of which can be immersed in the milk in the vessel.

[0017] According to an advantageous further development, it is also advantageous if the storage is a local storage or a cloud storage. The "connections" within the scope of this document, if they are designed or can be designed as data connections, can be wireless or wired.

[0018] The flow chart can also be modified or created from scratch, for example, manually or adaptively in response to one or more measurement results. This will be explained in more detail below with examples.

[0019] The invention then also provides a drinks vending machine, in particular a coffee machine, with at least one device according to one of the claims related thereto.

[0020] The invention then also provides a method with which a milk-air emulsion is produced from milk using a device according to one or more of the preceding claims, which method comprises at least the following steps: a) providing the device, providing a vessel and providing milk, b) filling the vessel with the milk and arranging the vessel such that the steam lance is immersed in the milk; and c) introducing air and steam through the steam lance into the milk in the vessel, wherein the air system and the steam system are controlled by the control unit with the milk-air emulsion production program according to at least one pre-stored milk-air emulsion production profile in order to produce the milk-air emulsion, d) wherein the control of the air system in step c) comprises at least two time phases in which air additions of different sizes greater than zero take place.

[0021] Since after step d) during milk production the air flow / time is thus set to at least two values ​​other than zero, a desired foam consistency can be achieved in a targeted manner. For further optimization, a preferred variant can further provide that the control of the air system in step c) further comprises at least one time phase in which no air is added. And for further optimization, it can also be provided that the control of the steam system in step c) further comprises at least one time phase in which no steam is added and a further time phase in which steam is added, in order to further optimize the foam consistency.

[0022] It is conceivable that the container is filled with milk manually or - particularly simply - automatically using a milk lance.

[0023] It is then conceivable and advantageous if the milk-air emulsion generation profile is adapted to one or more operating parameters during the production of the milk foam. For this purpose, at least one or more operating parameters can be determined once or several times during the process, which are used to adapt the milk-air emulsion generation profile.

[0024] It is expedient and advantageous if the operating parameter(s) used to adjust the milk / air emulsion generation profile, determined once or several times during the process, include the temperature of the milk in the vessel. It is also particularly advantageous if the amount of milk to be frothed in the vessel is entered into the system. Particularly good results with regard to optimal milk foam can be achieved by varying the amount of air introduced into the milk or the forming milk / air emulsion over time during the generation of the milk / air emulsion.

[0025] It is also conceivable that during the production of the milk / air emulsion, the amount of steam introduced into the milk / air emulsion is kept constant over time or is varied over time.

[0026] It is advantageous if, after starting the milk-air emulsion generation program, a preselection of the milk quantity and / or the milk type and / or the consistency of the milk-air emulsion to be produced is made via data input. It is further advantageous if, after starting the milk-air emulsion generation program, this program suggests presets for the air addition duration (foam volume) and / or the air addition quantity (bubble size) and / or the target temperature and / or can be individually adjusted by the user.

[0027] It is particularly simple and advantageous to adjust the foam quantity by adjusting the duration of the air addition or the air flow / time. This is because varying the air addition allows the consistency of the air / milk emulsion to be particularly well influenced. It is also particularly advantageous to measure the milk temperature in the vessel during the production of the milk / air emulsion and to incorporate this measured value into the process control.

[0028] According to the invention, a wide variety of control and process profiles can be generated and used. According to a particularly advantageous milk-air emulsion generation profile, the control of the air system comprises at least three temporal phases, wherein, in a first phase, no air is added up to a temperature value of "1," followed by a small amount of air in a second phase up to a temperature value of "2," followed by a large amount of air in a third phase up to a temperature value of "3," and then, preferably, a very small amount of air is added starting at a temperature value of "4" in a fourth phase.

[0029] Within the scope of the present invention, the method and / or device according to the invention can be used in a device for dispensing, and in particular also for preparing, a beverage. A corresponding device is preferably designed as a fully automatic coffee machine. Further advantageous embodiments are recited in the dependent claims.

[0030] The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings using exemplary embodiments. It should be emphasized that these exemplary embodiments are not to be understood as limiting. The invention is implemented particularly advantageously in this exemplary embodiment. The individual features of these exemplary embodiments can be advantageously used in combination with the respective further features of the exemplary embodiments. However, they can also be combined with other exemplary embodiments shown or not shown and are also suitable as advantageous embodiments of the subject matter described in one or more of the main and subclaims. It shows:

[0031] Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of the structure of a first device according to the invention for producing milk-air emulsions, in particular milk foam;

[0032] Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of the structure of a second device according to the invention for producing milk-air emulsions, in particular milk foam;

[0033] Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of the structure of a third device according to the invention for producing milk-air emulsions, in particular milk foam;

[0034] Fig. 4, 5 flow charts for illustrating exemplary processes for producing a milk-air emulsion;

[0035] Fig. 6 a diagram to visualize the influence of different parameters on the quality of a milk-air emulsion.

[0036] In the following description of the figures, various exemplary embodiments are described. The individual features of these exemplary embodiments can advantageously be used in combination with the respective further features of the exemplary embodiments. However, they can also be combined with other exemplary embodiments shown or not shown and are also suitable as advantageous refinements of the subject matter described in one or more of the main and subclaims. Fig. 1 shows a first exemplary structure of a device according to the invention for the preferably automated production of milk-air emulsions. The device can form an integral component of a drinks vending machine, in particular a coffee machine. This coffee machine can be designed in a variety of ways. However, it can also form a separate unit, which is placed, for example, as a stand-alone device next to a drinks vending machine.This is because the device for producing milk foam - whether integrated into the drinks machine or designed separately - is essentially designed separately from a section of the coffee machine with which the coffee is produced.

[0037] The devices of Figures 1 to 3 for producing milk-air emulsions serve to produce a milk-air emulsion, in particular in the manner of a milk foam, from a medium such as milk 3, which is preferably poured "untreated" or from a package or a tank into a vessel 2, by means of at least one steam lance 1 immersed in the vessel 2, with the aid of air and steam which are passed into the milk through the steam lance 1, and with the aid of automated control of the addition of air and steam to the milk. The term "milk" should not be defined too narrowly. It encompasses animal milks but also non-animal plant-based milk substitutes such as soy milk or oat milk or the like.

[0038] This milk foam can then be used to prepare a coffee specialty. For example, the milk foam can be poured into a cup that has previously been partially filled with coffee, or one that will be topped up with coffee afterward, to prepare a cappuccino or similar beverage.

[0039] The steam lance 1 can have an elongated shape, which allows it to be immersed from above into a vessel 2, such as a mug or a pitcher. It can have an outer casing in the manner of a tube. This outer casing can be made of metal or another material, such as ceramic. A combined steam / air line 4 is guided through the steam lance 1. A thermometer 5 can also be formed in or on the steam lance. This thermometer 5 can be connected to a control device 9 (which can be designed as a CPU) via a data link, such as a cable, or wirelessly. It is arranged such that the free end of the steam lance 1 is usually immersed in the medium, such as milk, contained in the vessel 2.

[0040] Alternatively, it may also be provided that a further separate supply line is formed in the steam lance, through which air can be fed into the vessel 2. In this case, only steam is fed through line 4, and air is fed through the further line (not shown here).

[0041] The milk can - for example in the embodiment of Fig. 1 - be filled into the vessel 2 - here the pitcher - from a separate container or - and this is particularly preferred - from a tank 25 and an outlet of the beverage machine. Fig. 2 discloses such an embodiment. Here, with at least one milk pump 24, the milk can be automatically fed and metered from the tank 25 through a milk line 26, preferably before the heating and / or frothing process, through a dispensing lance 23 (milk wand) as an outlet, which is preferably positioned directly next to the steam lance 1 above the pitcher 2 of the otherwise not shown beverage machine. A very advantageous feature here is that the steam lance 1 and the milk dispensing lance 23 are structurally clearly separated.

[0042] If multiple milk varieties are to be used, it is also possible to install several such Milk Wand systems (not shown). This has the advantage of complete medium separation.

[0043] Thus, in a method according to the invention, after a prior provision of the device for producing a milk-air emulsion, preferably milk foam (or a beverage machine with such a device), the milk is first filled into the container 2.

[0044] This can be done manually. Or it can be done automatically using a dispensing lance, from which milk is drawn from the tank 25 into the container. For this purpose, the breast pump can be controlled by a control unit 9 to turn it on and off and / or to vary the speed of the breast pump 24.

[0045] In a step B), air can be fed into the steam / air line 4 through an air line 14 with an air system 8 and steam can be fed through a steam line 20 with a steam system 7 together or individually through the steam / air line 4 into and through the steam lance 1 into the vessel 2.

[0046] The air and steam can each be fed into the steam-to-air line 4 in a controlled or regulated manner. According to a first embodiment, the air and steam addition can be carried out according to a pre-stored time schedule. Alternatively, the schedule can be modified or created entirely anew, for example, manually or adaptively in response to one or more measurement results. This will be explained in more detail below using examples.

[0047] The air and steam can, for example, be fed individually, with a time delay, or simultaneously, into the steam / air line 4. For this purpose, the steam system 7 and the air system 8 are each connected to the control unit 9 (CPU). This unit can have a CPU and a memory or be connected to one—locally or via, for example, a network or cloud connection—and can be provided with a control and / or regulation program with which the steam / air supply through the steam / air supply line 4 into the vessel 2 can be controlled or regulated.

[0048] It is possible to use the control and / or regulation program to implement sequence control of the process for the automated production of a milk / air emulsion. This will also be described in more detail below using examples.

[0049] The air system 8 can be designed or constructed in various ways. Exemplary embodiments are shown in Figs. 1 and 3. However, the invention is not limited thereto. The air system 8 could also be constructed in other ways.

[0050] According to Fig. 1, according to an advantageous embodiment, the air system 8 has an air inlet for air from an "air source 12," which can be formed from a tank or, for example, from the ambient air. This air source 12 can be followed in the air line 14 by at least one throttle, in particular a motorized air throttle 13, and an air pump 11, thereby providing means by which the air from the air source 12 can be conveyed through the air line 14 into the steam-air line 4.

[0051] Preferably, the amount of steam and / or air fed into the steam / air line 4 can be varied by appropriate control by the control unit 9. By definition, the "amount of air" ("air flow / time") is also referred to as "air addition." For this purpose, the motorized air throttle 13 and / or the air pump 11 can be controllable and connected to the control unit 9 at least via a control path (a wired line or wireless). There are at least two phases in which the air flow / time or the air addition are or will be set to different values ​​greater than zero.

[0052] According to Fig. 3, no controllable air throttle 13 is provided. However, the amount of air fed into the steam / air line 4 can still be varied. This is achieved by means of several throttles - here four - air throttles 28, 29 or 31, 32 (a1, a2, b1, b2) with preferably different cross-sections, which can be used either individually or, if necessary, together to supply air. For this purpose, the air system 8 in Fig. 3 has several - here four, for example - connections to several or to a common air source 12, which in turn can be formed, for example, from a tank or, for example, from the ambient air.

[0053] This one or these several air sources 12 can each have an air throttle 28, 29 or 30, 31 connected downstream in branch lines and these air throttle(s) 28, 29 or 30, 31 can in turn have one or more air selection valves 27, 30 connected downstream of them, which in turn can have an air pump 11 connected downstream of them.

[0054] By controlled switching of the two air selection valves 27, 30, switching can be performed between the air throttles 28, 29 and 31, 32. Branch lines from the air selection valves 27, 30 flow together into the air line 14. The air pump 11 can, in turn, be connected downstream of the air line 14.

[0055] The air selection valves 27, 30 and / or the air pump 11 can be controllable and connected to the control unit 9.

[0056] By appropriate control, the air path is opened through one of the air throttles 28, 29 or 30, 31, and the others are preferably closed. In this way, an air path is opened from the air source 12 through one of the air throttles 28, 29 or 31, 32 into the steam / air line.

[0057] It is also conceivable for the air path to be opened by two or more of the air throttles. In this case, for example, multiple air throttles with the same cross-section can be used. It is also conceivable for the at least one controllable air pump to be designed such that its delivery rate can be changed during operation of the air pump, for example, by adjusting it using the control unit.

[0058] The steam system 7 can also be designed in various ways. Its function is to generate steam from water and, if necessary, via an intermediate line such as the steam / air line 4, to direct it into the steam lance 1. A particularly preferred variant is shown in Figures 1 to 3.

[0059] The steam system 7 may be connected to a water source 16, which may be formed, for example, from a water pump or other water supply.

[0060] Downstream of this water source 16, a flow meter 17, a controllable filling valve 18, a steam boiler 15, and a steam line 20 with a steam shut-off and vent valve 19 may preferably be provided. The steam line 20 may open into the steam / air line 4.

[0061] However, the steam system 7 can also be constructed in a different way. For example, according to an alternative embodiment not shown here, the steam pressure in the steam line could be adjustable or controlled directly or via a motorized throttle in the steam channel 20 (corresponding profiles for air and steam can be stored).

[0062] The steam system 7 and the air system 8 are preferably each controllable by the control unit 9, on which a milk-air emulsion generation program is loaded and executable, wherein the control unit has access to a memory on which at least one or more milk-air emulsion generation profiles are stored, so that the steam and the air can be directed into the milk according to a respectively selected milk-air emulsion generation profile in order to automatically generate the milk-air emulsion in the vessel 2.

[0063] The device 1 can, for example, be advantageously used as follows to produce a milk-air emulsion.

[0064] The medium 3 to be heated and / or frothed, preferably milk or a milk substitute, is manually or automatically placed into the vessel 2 - e.g. the pitcher - and positioned under the steam lance 1, wherein the steam lance 1 and especially the nozzle with the steam outlet openings 22 should be immersed within the medium.

[0065] The steam generated in the steam system 8 in a steam boiler 15 is, when triggered with a preset steam product, directed through a line located in the coffee machine through the lance into the milk 3. The control of the steam generators and the necessary valve position is controlled by a computing unit—also called control unit 9—which preferably simultaneously records the duration / process time of the milk foam production and / or the medium temperature with the temperature sensor 5.

[0066] The temperature measurement is performed here, for example, using a sensor / probe 5, which has a tube that runs through the steam lance 1 and a measuring tip that can be located outside the steam lance parallel to the steam-air mixture outlet 4. This advantageously performs the measurement directly in the medium 3.

[0067] The steam and / or air addition can then be controlled depending on parameters, for example depending on preset time and / or temperature values, which can be done via the control unit 9.

[0068] The air is preferably added by means of the air pump 11, which, as required, is activated by the processing unit or the control unit 9 and supplies a defined amount of air to the steam flow according to the selected flow pattern—also called the control profile or milk / air emulsion generation profile. The steam-air mixture 6 is directed through one steam-air line 4 or several internal pipes in the steam lance 1 to the steam outlet(s) in the manner of a steam nozzle 22 and, during and after the outlet, foams the medium 3 in the vessel—in particular, in a pitcher—2.

[0069] It is possible to set individual switch-off temperatures for the air and steam addition, which are preferably between 50°C and 70°C.

[0070] It is also possible to set individual process times for the air and steam addition, which are based on the respective milk quantity. For example, 30 seconds of steam addition followed by 20 seconds of air addition for 180 ml of milk. Instead of a fixed / static air addition rate, it is also possible to vary the air quantity before and during foam preparation. By dynamically adjusting the air quantity, individual requirements, fluctuating ambient conditions, and specific framework conditions can be met, ensuring ideal foam results regardless of these.

[0071] The air addition control is preferably carried out as a function of the temperature and / or time (and / or other measurable physical quantities) and can also be adjusted to the type of milk, the milk temperature, the target consistency, the target foam quantity and the target temperature.

[0072] In particular, for dynamic air addition control, preset milk / air emulsion generation profiles can be used for optimal milk processing through time-varying air addition.

[0073] For example, by adjusting valve 13, different opening cross-sections can be generated, which can be used to vary the amount of air generated by air pump 11 and supplied to the steam. A large opening cross-section corresponds to a large amount of air, while a small opening cross-section corresponds to a small amount of air. The setting can be controlled and / or regulated prior to foam preparation and / or during preparation. It is also conceivable to regulate or control and / or regulate the air pump's air delivery rate by adjusting the speed accordingly.

[0074] With dynamic air addition control, preset profiles can be used for optimal milk processing. The profiles can be stored in the data memory of control unit 9 and can vary depending on the available milk type (preselection) and / or the desired milk foam properties.

[0075] The milk foam produced in this way can then be used to make a specialty drink.

[0076] Figure 4 illustrates by way of example how suitable milk-air emulsion generation profiles or control schemes can be determined.

[0077] When or after starting the program for producing the milk-air emulsion, the type of milk to be processed is preselected or the type of milk to be processed is selected or entered (e.g. UHT milk 3.8%) and the consistency to be produced (e.g. rather liquid foam, rather firm foam) (very liquid (flowable) to very firm (dry) foam).

[0078] Then, for example based on manufacturer database values, suitable and likely appropriate presets for the air addition duration (foam quantity), air proportion (bubble size) and target temperature / duration can be suggested, which can be further optimized by the user / technician on-site or via remote maintenance or individually adapted to customer requirements.

[0079] The milk temperature and steam pressure are internal machine measurement data and are included as initial conditions in the presetting of the control unit in its process control.

[0080] Examples include:

[0081] The foam quantity can be adjusted by adjusting the duration of the air addition (pump running time).

[0082] The foam consistency can be adjusted by adjusting the amount of air added (opening cross-section).

[0083] Setting the target temperature by defining the switch-off temperature for steam addition.

[0084] Depending on the result (does the milk foam meet your expectations in terms of quantity, consistency, and / or temperature), optional product-specific settings and adjustments can then be made. It's preferable to have several different settings that can be saved and recalled.

[0085] In this way, optimal milk-to-air emulsion generation profiles can be determined, saved, and then used for process control depending on the milk type and the desired foam consistency. This determination and saving of additional milk-to-air emulsion generation profiles can be performed by a user or by designing the program as a self-learning system.

[0086] With temperature-dependent control, the milk temperature can also be measured in real time by temperature sensor 5 (measuring probe) in the lance, and the air addition can be adjusted based on the measurement results. This can be done during operation. It is advantageous if 9 milk temperature ranges with defined air addition quantities are pre-stored in the memory of the control unit. Air addition profiles can also be saved depending on the milk type (database values), a start air addition depending on the milk temperature, and air addition in several phases, particularly depending on the measured milk / milk foam temperature.

[0087] Such an example will be explained in more detail below using an example with reference to Figs. 5 and 6.

[0088] Phase 1 - No air added until target temperature is reached Phase 1 - for example 10°C Heating to defined initial conditions without adding air in order to achieve repeatable frothing results regardless of the milk inlet temperature.

[0089] Phase 2 - Low air addition (air flow / time relative to the maximum possible air flow / time) to target temperature Phase 2 - for example 20°C,

[0090] Foam with a small amount of air added (25%) to initiate the foaming process until ideal air intake conditions are achieved. This prevents small air bubbles (or excessively large air bubbles) from merging and rising to the surface.

[0091] Phase 3 - High air addition up to target temperature Phase 3 - for example 60°C Frothing with high air addition 75% during the ideal range (between 20°C and 60° milk foam temperature) to achieve a high volume increase.

[0092] Phase 4 - Very low air addition from target temperature Phase 4 - for example 68°C Foaming with very low air addition 10% to avoid deterioration of the foam result due to expansion of the air bubbles at the high temperature.

[0093] List of reference symbols

[0094] 1. Dam plant

[0095] 2. Vessel (preferably pitcher)

[0096] 3. Medium (preferably milk or milk substitute)

[0097] 4. Steam / air line

[0098] 5. Temperature sensor

[0099] 6. Steam-air mixture

[0100] 7. Steam system

[0101] 8. Air system

[0102] 9. Computing unit

[0103] 10. Steam / air mixing connector (steam jet nozzle)

[0104] 11. Air pump

[0105] 12. Air source

[0106] 13. Air throttle

[0107] 14. Air / Air line

[0108] 15. Steam boiler

[0109] 16. Water supply / water pump

[0110] 17. Flow meter

[0111] 18. Filling valve

[0112] 19. Vapor barrier and ventilation valve

[0113] 20. Steam / steam line

[0114] 21. Data line

[0115] 22. Steam nozzle

[0116] 23. Milk lance / Foam Wand

[0117] 24. Breast pump

[0118] 25. Milk container

[0119] 26. Milk / Milk line

[0120] 27. Air selection valve

[0121] 28. Air throttle

[0122] 29. Air throttle

[0123] 30. Air selection valve

[0124] 31 . Air throttle

[0125] 32. Air throttle

Claims

Patent claims 1. A device for producing a milk-air emulsion, comprising at least one steam plant (1) designed to be immersed in a vessel (2) filled with milk, wherein, with the aid of a steam system (7) and an air system (8), steam and air can be directed through the steam plant (1) into the milk, wherein the steam system (7) and the air system (8) are each controllable by a control unit (9) on which a milk-air emulsion production program is loaded and executable, which has access to a memory on which at least one or more milk-air emulsion production profiles are stored, so that the steam and air can be directed into the milk according to a respectively selected milk-air emulsion production profile in order to automatically produce the milk-air emulsion in the vessel (2).wherein the one or more milk-to-air emulsion generation profiles comprise at least one actuation of the air system (8) during at least two time phases in which a different amount of air is added, each of which is greater than zero.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the air system comprises at least the following: a. at least one or more air throttles (13, 28, 29, 31, 32), b. at least one controllable air pump (11) connected to the control unit, and c. an air line (14).

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the at least one air throttle is connected to the control unit (9) and that it is designed as a controllable motor-driven air throttle (13).

4. Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the at least one controllable air pump is designed such that its delivery capacity is variable.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the one or more milk-air emulsion generation profiles further comprise at least one temporal phase in which no air is added.

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the one or more milk-air emulsion generation profiles comprise at least three time phases in each of which three different amounts of air are added.

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the one or more milk-air emulsion generation profiles further comprise at least one temporal phase in which at least one temporal phase in which no steam is added and at least one temporal phase in which steam is added.

8. Device according to claim 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the plurality of air throttles are designed as static air throttles (28, 29, 31, 32), to which one or more air selection valves (27, 30) connected to the control unit (9) and controllable by the latter are assigned.

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the steam system has at least one steam boiler (15), at least one controllable steam valve (19) and a steam line (20).

10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the steam pressure of the steam system can be varied in a controlled manner.

11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air line (14) and the steam line (20) open into a common combined steam-air line (4) which is guided through the steam lance (4) which can be immersed in the milk in the vessel.

12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air line (14) and the steam line (20) are guided separately through the steam lance (4) which can be immersed in the milk in the vessel.

13. Beverage vending machine, in particular a coffee machine, with at least one device according to one of the preceding claims.

14. A method for producing a milk-air emulsion from milk using a device according to one or more of the preceding claims, which comprises at least the following steps: d. Providing the device, providing a vessel (2) and providing milk, e. Filling the vessel (2) with the milk and arranging the vessel (2) such that the steam lance (1) is immersed in the milk; and f. Introducing air and steam through the steam lance (1) into the milk in the vessel (2), wherein the air system (8) and the steam system (7) are controlled by the control unit with the milk-air emulsion generation program according to at least one pre-stored milk-air emulsion generation profile in order to generate the milk-air emulsion, g. wherein the control of the air system (8) in step c) comprises at least two time phases in which a different amount of air is added, each of which is greater than zero.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the control of the air system (8) in step c) further comprises at least one time phase in which no air is added.

16. Method according to one of the preceding method claims, characterized in that the control of the air system (8) in step c) comprises three time phases, in each of which three different amounts of air are added.

17. Method according to one of the preceding method claims, characterized in that the control of the steam system (7) in step c) further comprises at least one time phase in which no steam is added.

18. Method according to one of the preceding method claims, characterized in that the vessel (2) is filled with the milk manually or automatically.

19. Method according to one of the preceding method claims, characterized in that during the process at least one or more operating parameters are determined once or several times, which are used to adapt the milk / air emulsion production profile during its process.

20. Method according to one of the preceding method claims, characterized in that the one or more times during the process The operating parameters used to adjust the milk / air emulsion production profile include the temperature of the milk in the vessel (2).

21. A method according to any one of the preceding method claims, characterized in that during the production of the milk / air emulsion, the amount of air introduced into the milk is varied over time and / or temperature.

22. Method according to one of the preceding method claims, characterized in that during the production of the milk-air emulsion, the amount of steam introduced into the milk is kept constant or varied over time and / or the temperature.

23. Method according to one of the preceding method claims, characterized in that after starting the milk-air emulsion production program, a preselection of the milk quantity and / or the milk type and / or the consistency of the milk-air emulsion to be produced is carried out via a data input.

24. Method according to claim 20, characterized in that after the milk-air emulsion production program has been started, this program suggests presettings for the air addition duration and / or the air addition quantity and / or the target temperature.

25. Method according to claim 21, characterized in that the presettings for the air addition duration and / or the air addition quantity and / or the target temperature are individually adjusted by the user.

26. Method according to one of the preceding method claims, characterized in that the amount of foam is adjusted by adjusting the duration of the air addition.

27. Method according to one of the preceding method claims, characterized in that the foam consistency is adjusted by adjusting the air addition.

28. Method according to one of the preceding method claims, characterized in that the target temperature is set by defining the switch-off temperature for the steam addition.

29. Method according to one of the preceding method claims, characterized in that the milk temperature in the vessel (2) is determined during the production of the milk / air emulsion and that this measured value is included in the process control.

30. Method according to one of the preceding method claims, characterized in that during the production of the milk / air emulsion, a further milk / air emulsion production profile can be determined as a function of the type of milk and / or the desired foam consistency, stored and then used to control the process of the milk / air emulsion production.

31. Method according to one of the preceding method claims, characterized in that during the production of the milk / air emulsion, the control of the air system (8) comprises three or more phases, wherein in a first phase initially no air is added up to a temperature value "1", then in a second phase a small air is added up to a temperature value "2" and then in a third phase a large air is added up to a temperature value "3" and then preferably in a fourth phase a very small air is added from a temperature value "4".

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