Craft Plant-Based Drink Filter Accessory for Foamer Pot

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an assembly (1, 1', 1'', 1''') for foaming a vegetable drink, the assembly (1, 1', 1'', 1''') comprising: a reservoir (4) comprising a wall delimiting a cavity (9) for receiving the vegetable drink; a conveying conduit (3) having a suction end (6) fluidly connected to the interior of the cavity and a discharge end (7) intended to be connected to a foaming member (8) of the vegetable drink; and a filtering wall (2, 2', 2'') extending within the cavity (9), at a non-zero distance from the suction end (6), and configured to filter the vegetable drink circulating from the reservoir (4) to the foaming member (8), before it passes through the suction end (6). Figure for abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Accessory for filtering artisanal vegetable drinks for a frothing pot Technical field

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to the field of foaming devices for producing foam from a liquid, in particular from a vegetable drink, in particular a homemade vegetable drink and in particular homemade vegetable milk. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Some coffee-based drinks contain milk and milk foam, which can be produced by a frothing device provided either in a coffee machine or separately. This is generally industrial animal milk, which is in liquid form.

[0003] To produce milk foam, foaming devices operating on the principle of the Venturi effect are known from the state of the art: a vacuum is generated at one end of a delivery duct so as to force the suction of milk into the duct. A downstream end of the delivery duct, through which the milk exits, is then connected to a device capable of transforming the milk into milk with milk foam.

[0004] However, more and more consumers prefer vegetable drinks to animal milk, and wish to enjoy their coffee accompanied by milk with milk foam made from such vegetable drinks. For ecological or economic reasons, due to taste preference or also due to health concerns and intolerance or allergy, some of them wish to make their own vegetable drinks, for example by grinding or mixing nuts, legumes, cereals, etc. Indeed, taking the example of a drink produced from almonds, a commercialized drink typically comprises 2 to 5% of almonds by volume, whereas a craft drink may comprise more than 15% of almonds by volume.

[0005] However, the artisanal vegetable drinks thus produced contain numerous large particles, typically having a largest dimension of at least 300 micrometers. In large numbers, these particles can clog circuits of foaming devices into which they are poured and disrupt their operation. In addition, the presence of such particles in the drink during foaming is undesirable, because the particles on the one hand tend to burst the bubbles which give the foam its particular texture, and on the other hand give a rough taste to the drink. EXPOSED

[0006] There is therefore a need for an optimized device adapted to the foaming of vegetable drinks / milk, particularly homemade, and capable of producing a foam from these vegetable drinks which is of good quality.

[0007] To this end, a first aspect of the present disclosure relates to an assembly for foaming a vegetable drink, the assembly comprising: - a tank comprising a wall delimiting a cavity for receiving the vegetable drink; - a conveying duct having a suction end fluidly connected to the interior of the cavity and a discharge end intended to be connected to a member for foaming the vegetable drink; and - a filtering wall extending within the cavity, at a non-zero distance from the suction end, and configured to filter the vegetable drink circulating from the reservoir to the foaming member, before it passes through the suction end.

[0008] Thanks to the proposed assembly, the vegetable drink is filtered by the filter wall upstream of its passage at the suction end of the conveying duct. Such an architecture allows the liquid passing into the foaming member to be foamed there to be filtered before reaching the foaming member. Thus, this avoids blocking the ducts of the foaming member which are of reduced diameter and makes it possible to obtain a good quality foam free from large particles.

[0009] Preferred but non-limiting aspects of this assembly, taken alone or in combination, are as follows: - at least a portion of the wall of the tank forms a bottom on which the tank is intended to rest under the effect of gravity, the filter wall extending in a plane not parallel to the bottom, - the filter wall extends at a non-zero distance from the bottom, - a portion of the conveying duct is elongated along a longitudinal axis not parallel to the bottom, and the filter wall is arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis, - the conveying duct comprises a portion extending inside the cavity and the filtering wall surrounds, preferably entirely, at least part of the portion of the conveying duct extending inside the cavity, - the filter wall is concave with a concavity diverted from the conveying duct, - the filter wall is cylindrical and surrounds at least part of the portion of the conveying duct extending inside the cavity, preferably being centered on the portion of the conveying duct extending inside the cavity, the foaming assembly further comprises a collection element extending inside the cavity and configured to collect each particle filtered by the filter wall from the vegetable beverage circulating from the reservoir to the foaming member, before its passage through the suction end, the collection element is coupled to the filter wall and preferably extends substantially parallel to a bottom of the tank, the filtering wall is coupled to the reservoir in a removable manner, the filtering wall separates the cavity into at least two separate parts, the suction end extending inside one of the two parts, the other of the two parts being open so as to be able to collect liquid before its circulation to the foaming member, through the filtering wall, the foaming assembly comprises a filtration member comprising: • the filtering wall; • a guide element configured to guide the vegetable drink poured into the cavity to the filter wall; • a collection element configured to collect a particle filtered by the filter wall from liquid passing through the filter wall; and • a support configured to couple the filtration member to the reservoir, the filtering wall is cylindrical in shape and comprises filtration zones separated by reinforcement zones of the structure of the filtration member, the collection element comprises a collection wall of the filtration member, the support comprises feet capable of being in contact with a bottom of the reservoir, the feet defining between them circulation channels for the vegetable drink following its passage through the filtering wall, the wall of the reservoir comprises a sliding connection, the filtering wall being configured to be coupled to the reservoir via the sliding connection, the foaming assembly further comprises a collection element configured to collect each particle filtered by the filtering wall from the liquid circulating from the reservoir to the foaming member, before its passage through the suction end,the collection element comprising a tab fixed to the filter wall, the foaming assembly comprises a filtration member comprising:, • at least two caps (15, 16); • the filter wall fixed to each of the two caps so as to form a cylinder, one of the two caps forming the head of the cylinder, the other of the two caps forming the foot of the cylinder; and • a collection element configured to collect each particle filtered by the filter wall from the liquid circulating from the reservoir to the foaming member, before it passes through the suction end, the collection element comprising a tab fixed to the foot of the cylinder, - the filtration member is configured to be removably mounted on the conveying duct, so that the collection element fits at least part of the bottom of the tank and the cylinder surrounds at least part of a portion of the conveying duct extending within the cavity, - the filter wall comprises a material chosen from metals, plastic materials and / or textile materials, - the filter wall is configured to filter particles having a largest dimension greater than or equal to 30 micrometers, preferably greater than 100 micrometers, - the foaming member is suitable for being integrated into a beverage dispensing head of a beverage dispensing machine or for being connected to a hot water or steam dispensing outlet of the beverage dispensing machine, and the delivery end is suitable for being connected to a vegetable beverage inlet of the foaming member, - the foaming member is positioned at an open end of the tank opposite the bottom along a vertical axis, the open end forming an access opening to the cavity, - the foaming member is capable of closing at least partially an open end of the tank opposite the bottom. DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0010] Other characteristics, aims and advantages will emerge from the following description, which is purely illustrative and not limiting, and which must be read in conjunction with the drawings.

[0011] [Fig. IA] and [Fig. IB] represent an assembly for foaming a vegetable drink, according to a first exemplary embodiment.

[0012] [Fig.2A] and [Fig.2B] represent an assembly for foaming a vegetable drink, according to a second exemplary embodiment.

[0013] [Fig.3A] and [Fig.3B] represent an assembly for foaming a vegetable drink, according to a third exemplary embodiment.

[0014] [Fig.4A] and [Fig.4B] represent an assembly for foaming a vegetable drink, according to a fourth exemplary embodiment.

[0015] Throughout the figures, similar elements bear identical references. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] In the remainder of the description, foam or foaming means obtaining a foam from a liquid, whether it is only foam from this liquid (i.e. milk foam) or a mixture of this liquid and foam from this liquid (i.e. a mixture of milk and milk foam).

[0017] Furthermore, vegetable milk or vegetable drink is understood to mean a drink obtained for example by grinding or mixing nuts, legumes, cereals, etc. More precisely, these drinks are prepared for example from almonds or soy or oats or rice or coconut or hazelnuts.

[0018] A 1, 1', 1”, 1'” assembly is proposed for foaming a vegetable drink, such as vegetable milk.

[0019] In Figures 1A and 1B, the assembly 1 is in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment, while in Figures 2A and 2B, the assembly 1' is in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment, in Figures 3A and 3B, the assembly 1” is in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment, and in Figures 4A and 4B, the assembly 1”' is in accordance with a fourth exemplary embodiment.

[0020] In the remainder of this text, the elements common to the four exemplary embodiments mentioned above will be described first, then each of the embodiments will be described individually.

[0021] The assembly 1, 1', 1”, 1”' comprises a tank 4 provided with a wall, in particular a sealed wall.

[0022] The wall delimits a cavity 9 for receiving a vegetable drink.

[0023] The tank 4 comprises a bottom 10 on which the tank 4 is intended to rest. under the effect of gravity.

[0024] The assembly 1, 1', 1”, 1”' further comprises a conveying conduit 3 comprising a first end, called the suction end 6, which is fluidically connected to the receiving cavity 9 so as to allow the suction, in the conveying conduit 3, of a portion of the vegetable drink located in the cavity 9. The conveying conduit 3 advantageously extends itself at least partially in the cavity 9.

[0025] In the configuration for using the assembly 1, 1', 1”, 1'” to foam the vegetable drink, the liquid flows in the conveying conduit 3 from the suction end 6 to a discharge end 7, through which it exits and joins a foaming member 8.

[0026] The flow of the liquid in the conveying conduit 3 can be carried out under the action of the foaming member 8 for example by Venturi effect: the foaming member 8 is for example connected to a steam nozzle of a coffee machine, and the distribution of steam by the nozzle to the foaming member allows the creation of a depression at the level of the discharge end 7, which forces the liquid present in the reservoir 4 to flow into the conveying conduit 3 by entering through the suction end 6 due to the pressure difference generated between the discharge end 7 and the suction end 6.

[0027] In the first three embodiments shown in figures 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B the foaming member 8 belongs to the set 1, 1', 1”. The foaming member 8 is advantageously suitable for being positioned at an open end 25 of the reservoir 4 opposite the bottom 10 along a vertical axis, the open end 25 forming an access opening to the cavity 9. Advantageously again, and as shown in figures 1A, 2A and 3A, the foaming member 8 is suitable for at least partially closing the open end 25.

[0028] As shown in Figures 1A, 2A and 3A, the foaming member 8 comprises a mixing chamber 21 in which the beverage is suitable for being transformed into foam. The mixing chamber 21 is secured, removably or not, to the conveying duct 3. Alternatively, the mixing chamber 21 is formed in one piece with the conveying duct 3.

[0029] The mixing chamber 21 opens to a frothed milk dispensing outlet. The frothed milk dispensing outlet comprises, for example, a spout through which the frothed milk is suitable for dispensing into a container such as a coffee cup.

[0030] The foaming member 8 preferably comprises an air circulation channel and a steam circulation channel not visible in the figures, which meet at the discharge end 7, the assembly opening into a main flow duct connected to the mixing chamber 21. Thus, a first mixing is carried out at the main flow duct, the mixing then continuing in the mixing chamber 21 (this is also referred to as homogenization).

[0031] In the fourth embodiment shown in Figures 4A and 4B, the foaming member is not visible and is offset in a beverage dispensing head 26 of a beverage dispensing machine 28 such as a coffee machine. The foaming member comprises, similarly to the other embodiments, a mixing chamber, a main flow duct and steam and air circulation channels. The foaming member also comprises a milk circulation channel for supplying milk to the main flow duct and circulating the milk to a frothed milk dispensing outlet via the mixing chamber. mixing and foaming the milk. In this embodiment, the conveying conduit 3 is a tube, for example a flexible tube, the suction end 6 of which plunges into the cavity 9 and the discharge end of which is connected to a milk inlet of the foaming member supplying the milk circulation channel with milk. Advantageously, the conveying conduit 3 comprises several parts, such as tubes, assembled together.

[0032] As shown in Figures 1A, 1B and 1C, for the first three embodiments, the assembly 1 comprises a cover 20 provided with a movable crown 22 suitable for being fixed to the reservoir 4 to keep the cover 20 in contact with the foaming member 8 and in particular in contact with the steam and air circulation channels, the discharge end 7 and the main flow duct. The cover 20 is suitable for closing an open upper portion of the steam and air circulation channels, the discharge end 7 and the main flow duct. Thus, access to these elements and their cleaning is facilitated.

[0033] Advantageously, an internal surface of the movable crown 22 is provided with a thread complementary to a thread provided on the reservoir 4, so as to allow the cover 20 to be screwed onto the reservoir 4. Preferably, a sealing gasket is arranged inside the movable crown 22, and thus makes it possible to ensure a seal between the cover 20 and the reservoir 4 when the cover 20 is screwed onto the reservoir.

[0034] The assembly 1, 1', 1” comprises a coupling element 23 configured to allow coupling of the conveying conduit 3, and possibly of the mixing chamber 21, with the reservoir 4. The coupling element 23 comprises a shoulder 24 configured to come into contact with an upper edge of the wall of the reservoir 4.

[0035] A filter wall 2, 2', 2” is arranged in the cavity 9, and allows, when filling the cavity 9 with vegetable drink and / or after this, the filtration of large diameter particles present in the drink. The filter wall 2, 2', 2” is arranged in the reservoir 4 so as to ensure the filtration of the drink upstream of the suction end 6 in a direction of flow of the liquid, so that the liquid entering the conveying conduit 3 has already undergone filtration.

[0036] The filter wall 2, 2', 2” is arranged at a non-zero distance from the suction end 6. Such an arrangement is advantageous in that the filter wall does not create a pressure drop at the suction end 6 through which a filtered liquid can therefore be easily sucked. Furthermore, this avoids a possible blockage of the liquid flow at the suction end 6, by a possible plug that the particles retained by the filter wall 2, 2', 2” could form if they were against the suction end 6.

[0037] Preferably, the filtering wall 2, 2', 2” is arranged at a distance from the suction end 6 at least equal to 1 mm, preferably of the order of 5 mm, preferably still a distance between 1 and 40 mm.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the filter wall 2, 2', 2” is removable. Thus, the assembly can not only be used for frothing a craft vegetable drink, but can also be used to receive animal milk or a pre-filtered vegetable drink.

[0039] According to one embodiment, the filter wall 2, 2', 2” comprises a metallic material. The filter wall 2, 2', 2” comprises, for example, stainless steel. Alternatively, the filter wall 2, 2', 2” comprises a metal treated with an anti-corrosion treatment. According to another alternative, the filter wall 2, 2', 2” comprises a plastic material, in particular polyester. Alternatively, the filter wall 2, 2', 2” comprises a textile material, the thickness of the mesh of the textile material having to be adapted to the size of the particles which must be filtered in the beverage.

[0040] According to one embodiment, the filtering wall 2, 2', 2” is configured to filter particles whose largest dimension is greater than 30 and preferably greater than 100 micrometers or even 300 micrometers.

[0041] According to one embodiment, the filtering wall 2, 2', 2” extends at a non-zero distance from the bottom 10 of the reservoir 4, so as to allow the passage of filtered liquid in a space between the filtering wall 2, 2', 2” and the bottom 10 before its circulation in the conveying conduit 3, and thus facilitate the suction of the liquid in the conveying conduit 3. This also allows homogenization of the filtered liquid during its flow in the space between the filtering wall 2, 2', 2” and the bottom 10. Preferably, the filtering wall 2, 2', 2” is arranged at a distance from the bottom 10 of the reservoir 4 at least equal to 10 mm, more preferably a distance between 10 mm and 40 mm.

[0042] According to one embodiment, at least a portion of the conveying conduit 3 is elongated along a longitudinal axis X not parallel to the bottom 10 when the conveying conduit 3 is in a state mounted in the tank 4. As shown in FIGS. 1A, 2A and 3A, the axis X is preferably orthogonal to a plane in which the bottom 10 is inscribed. The filtering wall 2, 2', 2” extends parallel to the longitudinal axis X. The conveying conduit 3 then comprises a portion which extends inside the cavity 9 so that the filtering wall 2, 2', 2” surrounds, at least partially, and preferably entirely, a part of the portion of the conveying conduit 3 extending inside the cavity.

[0043] As shown in Figures 2B and 3B, the filtering wall 2', 2” has, over part or all of its length defined along the longitudinal axis X, a concavity. In particular, the filtering wall 2', 2” may have a concavity diverted from the conveying duct 3 so as to better match the shape of the conveying duct 3. This ensures homogenization of the filtration of the liquid. around the conveying conduit 3 before its entry through the suction end 6.

[0044] Alternatively, the filter wall 2, 2', 2” is partially or entirely planar.

[0045] Advantageously, the filter wall 2, 2', 2” extends along a plane not parallel to the bottom 10. When the beverage circulates in a direction parallel to the bottom 10, for example under the effect of suction caused by a depression at the discharge end 7, this ensures that the plane of the filter wall is substantially orthogonal to the direction of circulation of the beverage.

[0046] In the embodiments shown, the assembly 1, 1', 1”, 1'” for foaming comprises a collection element 5, 5' which extends inside the cavity 9. The collection element makes it possible to collect the particles filtered by the filter wall 2, 2', 2” during the passage of the liquid therethrough before entering the conveying conduit 3 via the suction end 6. The collection element 5, 5' is advantageously formed in a single piece with the filter wall 2, 2', 2” as shown in the figures.

[0047] Alternatively, the collection element 5, 5' is coupled to the filter wall 2, 2', 2", while being formed separately therefrom. In particular, the collection element 5, 5' is coupled to the filter wall 2, 2', 2" in a removable manner.

[0048] According to another variant, the collection element is separated from the filter wall 2, 2', 2”.

[0049] According to the embodiment of Figures 1A and 1B, a guide element 11 is arranged adjacent to the filter wall 2 so as to be upstream of the filter wall 2 in a normal flow direction of the liquid. The guide element 11 takes the form, for example, of a spout or a funnel. The guide element 11 makes it possible to guide the liquid towards the filter wall 2, in particular when liquid is poured into the cavity 9 by a user.

[0050] The collecting element takes the form of a collecting wall 5 arranged between the filtering wall 2 and the bottom 10, so that the particles filtered by the filtering wall 2 are conveyed, under the action of gravity, towards the collecting wall 5. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the collecting wall 5 extends substantially parallel to the bottom 10.

[0051] As a variant, the collection wall 5 has a slight inclination relative to the bottom 10, for example of a few degrees, so that the accumulation of the filtered particles under the effect of gravity on the collection wall 5 takes place on a given part of the collection wall 5, thus facilitating the recovery of the filtered particles by the user.

[0052] According to another variant, as shown in Figures 2A and 3A, the collection element takes the form of a tab 5' extending projecting from the filtering wall 2', 2”. Advantageously, the tab 5' extends substantially parallel to the bottom 10.

[0053] Alternatively, the tab 5' has a slight inclination relative to the bottom 10, for example of a few degrees, so that the accumulation of the filtered particles under the effect of gravity on the tab 5' takes place on a given part of the tab 5', thus facilitating the recovery of the filtered particles by the user.

[0054] When it extends substantially parallel to the bottom 10, the tab 5' is advantageously arranged on the bottom 10. As a variant, the tab 5' is arranged at a non-zero distance from the bottom 10.

[0055] The tab 5' comprises a main part 52 and a rim 51 not parallel to the main part 52. In particular, the rim 51 is preferably configured to fit a wall of the reservoir 4. The rim 51 makes it easier for a user to grip the tab 5', in particular in order to recover the filtered particles accumulated on the tab 5'.

[0056] Alternatively, the tab 5' is made up only of the main part 52, without rim 51.

[0057] In the embodiment of [Fig.2A], the filter wall 2' separates the cavity 9 into two distinct parts: an upstream part 91 and a downstream part 92 in a normal direction of circulation of the beverage during operation of the assembly 1'. The suction end 6 of the conveying conduit 3 extends into the downstream part 92, so as to receive the filtered liquid. The upstream part 91 is open so as to be able to collect liquid before it passes through the filter wall 2'. For example, the upstream part 91 is open so as to allow the beverage to be poured by a user into the upstream part 91.

[0058] According to one embodiment, the filtering wall 2, 2', 2” is arranged relative to the conveying conduit 3 so that a circulation of the vegetable drink through the filtering wall 2, 2', 2” takes place in a radial direction, that is to say in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis X and passing through it.

[0059] The particular embodiments corresponding to the figures will now be described in more detail embodiment by embodiment.

[0060] The assembly for foaming 1 a vegetable drink illustrated in Figures 1A and 1B comprises a filtering member 12 provided with the filtering wall 2 and the guide element 11 arranged so as to guide liquid poured into the cavity 9 to the filtering wall 2. The guide element 11 takes the form of a spout, as shown in [Fig.1A], or a funnel. The filtering member 12 comprises the collection element 5, configured to collect at least a portion of the particles filtered by the filtering wall 2.

[0061] At least a portion of the conveying duct 3 extends in a direction non-parallel to the bottom 10 defined by the longitudinal axis X, and the filtering wall 2 extends at least in part along the longitudinal axis X. The longitudinal axis X defines a direction axial. According to the example illustrated in Figures 1A and 1B, the longitudinal axis X is substantially orthogonal to the bottom 10 of the tank 4 when the conveying conduit 3 is positioned in the tank 4.

[0062] The filtering wall 2 extends around a receiving zone 93, designed to receive a pouring of the beverage by the user, so as to completely surround the receiving zone 93. The filtering wall comprises, according to its circumference, one or more filtration zone(s) 17 carrying out the filtration of the beverage.

[0063] The filtration zones 17 are separated by one or more reinforcement zones 14. The reinforcement zones 14 are solid and allow the structural reinforcement of the filter wall 2.

[0064] The suction end 6 of the conveying duct 3 is located in the cavity 9 and outside the receiving zone 93.

[0065] The filtration member 12 comprises a support 13 configured to couple the filtration member 12 to the reservoir 4.

[0066] The support 13 can take any form allowing such coupling so as to prevent relative movement between the filtration member 12 and the reservoir 4 during use of the assembly 1.

[0067] Advantageously, the support 13 comprises feet 18 in contact with the bottom 10. The feet 18 define between them circulation channels 19 configured to allow passage of the filtered vegetable drink, following its passage through the filtering wall 2, through the support 13 towards the suction end 6.

[0068] Alternatively, the support 13 has the shape of a rim extending in the extension of the wall of the filtration member 12 in the axial direction defined by the longitudinal axis X.

[0069] Preferably, the collection wall 5 is not filtering. This allows a user to use a tool, such as a pestle of a shape substantially complementary to that of the collection wall 5, to wring out the liquid remaining in the filtration member 12 without the risk of particles passing through the collection wall 5 under the action of the tool. The collection element 5 makes it possible to retain the filtered particles, to allow a user to recover them when the assembly 1 is no longer in operation.

[0070] The filtration member 12 is advantageously removable relative to the reservoir 4. It is thus possible to use the reservoir 4 without the filtration member 12, for example to froth a vegetable drink or an animal milk already filtered before it is poured into the cavity 9. The removability of the filtration member 12 relative to the reservoir also makes it possible, once the liquid has been filtered, to remove the filtration member 12 with the filtered particles arranged in the collection element, so as to leave only the filtered liquid in the cavity 9.

[0071] A use of the assembly 1 according to this exemplary embodiment comprises the steps following: an assembly of the assembly 1, with an introduction of the filtration member 12 into the reservoir 4, then a filling of the cavity 9 with beverage. To best extract the beverage from the filtration member 12 and force the filtered particles towards the collection wall 5, the user can use the tool, in particular the pestle, by pressing it against the collection wall 5 and possibly against the filtering wall 2. The assembly of the assembly 1 then comprises an introduction of a portion of the conveying conduit 3 into the cavity 9, followed by screwing the movable crown 22 onto the reservoir 4.

[0072] When disassembling the assembly 1, carried out after filtering the beverage, and before or after foaming the beverage, the filtration member 12 is able to be removed from the cavity 9.

[0073] A second exemplary embodiment is illustrated in Figures 2A and 2B. Compared with the first exemplary embodiment illustrated in Figures 1A and 1B, this exemplary embodiment is identical except for the following.

[0074] In this exemplary embodiment, the assembly 1' does not comprise a filtering member. The filtering wall 2' is coupled to the reservoir 4 via a sliding connection 14, preferably two sliding connections 14 arranged at two distinct circumferential positions of the wall of the reservoir 4. The filtering wall 2' extends to the bottom 10 of the reservoir, so as to divide the cavity 9 into an upstream portion 91 and a downstream portion 92 in a normal flow direction of the liquid during operation of the assembly 1'. The suction end 6 is then positioned in the downstream portion 92, while the upstream portion 91 is open so as to be able to receive liquid, for example during a pouring made by a user.

[0075] The assembly 1' advantageously comprises, as shown, a collection member. The collection member takes the form of a tab 5' as described previously.

[0076] For this exemplary embodiment, an assembly of the assembly 1' comprises a step of positioning the filtering wall 2' in the sliding connections 14 in order to couple the filtering wall 2' to the reservoir 4, before filling the cavity 9, in particular in the upstream part 91, with vegetable drink. Optionally, the user uses a tool, such as a pestle, to force the particles filtered in the upstream part 91 towards the bottom 10 of the reservoir 4 and / or towards the tab 5'.

[0077] A third exemplary embodiment is illustrated in Figures 3A and 3B.

[0078] The assembly 1” comprises a filtering member 12” provided with a filtering wall 2”. The filtering wall 2” has the shape of a cylinder of revolution, the center of the cylinder preferably being coincident with a center of the suction end 6. The filtering member 12” also comprises two caps 15, 16. When the filtering member 12” is in a state mounted in the tank 4, a cap located closest to the bottom 10 of the tank 4 forms a foot 15 of the cylinder, the other cap forming a head 16 of the cylinder.

[0079] The filtration member 12” advantageously comprises a collection element, the collection element comprising a tab 5' fixed to the foot 15 of the cylinder. The tab 5' is configured to collect the particles filtered by the filter wall 2”.

[0080] The filtration member 12'' is advantageously configured to allow removable mounting of the filtration member 12” on the conveying duct 3. The collection element then fits at least part of the bottom 10, the cylinder comprising the filtration wall 2”, the foot 15 and the head 16 surrounding at least part of a portion of the conveying duct 3 which extends into the cavity 9. In particular, the cylinder surrounds a part of the conveying duct 3 which comprises the suction end 6.

[0081] For this exemplary embodiment, an assembly of the assembly 1” comprises a step of positioning the filtration member 12” in the cavity 9. When the assembly 1” comprises a tab 5', the positioning of the filtration member 12” in the cavity 9 takes place before the filling of the cavity 9 with beverage. The filling can be carried out in particular through an opening provided for this purpose in the foaming member 8. When the assembly 1” does not comprise a collection member, the positioning of the filtration member 12” can be carried out before or after the filling of the cavity 9 with beverage.

[0082] In the first three embodiments, the assembly 1, 1', 1” forms a milk jug comprising a foaming member 8 at its filling end which comprises a steam inlet suitable for being connected to a steam outlet of a beverage dispensing machine in order to be able to deliver a vegetable beverage foam from a vegetable beverage contained in the reservoir 4.

[0083] A fourth embodiment is illustrated in Figures 4A and 4B. For this embodiment, the assembly 1'” comprises for example a filtration member 12 such as that described for the embodiment of Figures 1A and 1B (as shown in [Fig.4A]), or a filtration member 12' such as that described for the embodiment of Figures 3A and 3B (not shown for this fourth embodiment). Alternatively, the assembly 1”' is devoid of a filtration member, and instead comprises a filtering wall 2' mounted on two sliding connections 14 such as described for the embodiment of Figures 2A and 2B (not shown for this fourth embodiment).

[0084] The differences between this embodiment of Figures 4A and 4B and the three previous embodiments of Figures 1A and 1B, 2A and 2B, 3A and 3B respectively are as follows: the assembly 1'” comprises a foaming member and a mixing chamber (not shown) arranged within a beverage dispensing head 26 of a beverage dispensing machine 28, such as a coffee machine. Thus, the foaming member and the mixing chamber are located outside the reservoir 4. For this embodiment, the suction end 6 of the conveying conduit 3 extends into the cavity 9, and the conveying conduit 3 extends partly outside the assembly 1'” so as to reach the dispensing head 26 of the beverage dispensing machine 28. The assembly 1'” comprises a cover 20', provided with an orifice 27 for the passage of the conveying conduit 3. The cover 20' does not have any orifice other than the passage orifice 27. Alternatively, the cover 20' also comprises a pouring opening 29 allowing a user to pour a liquid into the cavity 9 without having to first remove the cover 20'. The cover 20' may comprise an internal thread complementary to an external thread of an open end 25 of the reservoir 4, so as to be able to removably engage thereon.According to this embodiment, the reservoir 4 only provides a filtering function, the foaming function being provided by the assembly 1'” within the dispensing head 26.

[0085] As an alternative to this embodiment, the foaming member is not arranged within a beverage dispensing head but is offset from the reservoir 4 and capable of being connected to a hot water / steam dispensing outlet of the beverage dispensing machine, for example accessible on a front face of the beverage dispensing machine.

[0086] Of course, the present invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described and illustrated which have been given only as an example. Modifications remain possible, in particular from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

Claims

1. Assembly (1, 1', 1”, 1”') for foaming a vegetable drink, the assembly (1, 1', 1”, 1'”) comprising: a reservoir (4) comprising a wall delimiting a cavity (9) for receiving the vegetable drink; a conveying conduit (3) having a suction end (6) fluidly connected to the interior of the cavity and a delivery end (7) intended to be connected to a foaming member (8) for the vegetable drink; and a filtering wall (2, 2', 2”) extending within the cavity (9), at a non-zero distance from the suction end (6), and configured to filter the vegetable drink circulating from the reservoir (4) to the foaming member (8), before it passes through the suction end (6).

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the wall of the reservoir (4) forms a bottom (10) on which the reservoir (4) is intended to rest under the effect of gravity, the filtering wall (2, 2', 2”) extending in a plane non-parallel to the bottom (10).

3. An assembly according to claim 2, wherein the filtering wall (2, 2', 2”) extends at a non-zero distance from the bottom (10).

4. Assembly according to any one of claims 2 and 3, in which a portion of the conveying conduit (3) is elongated along a longitudinal axis (X) non-parallel to the bottom (10), and where the filtering wall (2, 2', 2”) is arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis (X).

5. An assembly according to claim 4, wherein the conveying duct (3) comprises a portion extending inside the cavity (9) and wherein the filtering wall (2', 2”) surrounds, preferably entirely, at least part of the portion of the conveying duct (3) extending inside the cavity (9).

6. An assembly according to claim 5, wherein the filter wall (2, 2', 2”) is concave with a concavity diverted from the conveying conduit (3).

7. An assembly according to claim 5, wherein the filter wall (2”) is cylindrical and surrounds at least part of the portion of the conveying duct (3) extending inside the cavity (9), preferably being centered on the portion of the conveying duct (3) extending inside the cavity (9).

8. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a collection element (5, 5') extending inside the cavity (9) and configured to collect each particle filtered by the filter wall (2, 2', 2”) from the vegetable drink circulating from the reservoir (4) to the foaming member (8), before its passage through the suction end (6).

9. An assembly according to claim 8, wherein the collection element (5, 5') is coupled to the filter wall (2, 2', 2”) and preferably extends substantially parallel to a bottom (10) of the reservoir (4).

10. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the filter wall (2, 2', 2”) is coupled to the reservoir (4) in a removable manner.

11. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the filtering wall (2, 2', 2”) separates the cavity (9) into at least two separate parts (91, 92), the suction end (6) extending inside one (92) of the two parts, the other (91) of the two parts being open so as to be able to collect liquid before its circulation to the foaming member (8), through the filtering wall (2, 2', 2”).

12. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 11, comprising a filtration member (12) comprising: the filter wall (2); a guide element (11) configured to guide vegetable drink poured into the cavity (9) to the filter wall (2); a collection element (5) configured to collect a particle filtered by the filter wall from the liquid passing through the filter wall; and a support (13) configured to couple the filtration member (12) to the reservoir (4).

13. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the wall of the reservoir (4) comprises a sliding connection (14), the filter wall (2') being configured to be coupled to the reservoir (4) via the sliding connection (14).

14. An assembly according to claim 13, further comprising a collection element configured to collect each particle filtered by the filter wall (2') from the liquid flowing from the reservoir (4) to the foaming member (8), before it passes through the suction end (6), the collection element comprising a tab (5') fixed to the filter wall (2').

15. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 11, comprising a filter member (12”) comprising: at least two caps (15, 16); the filter wall (2”) attached to each of the two caps so as to form a cylinder, one of the two caps forming the head (16) of the cylinder, the other of the two caps forming the foot (15) of the cylinder; and a collection element configured to collect each particle filtered by the filter wall (2”) from the liquid circulating from the reservoir to the foaming member (8), before it passes through the suction end (6), the collection element comprising a tab (5') fixed to the foot of the cylinder.

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