Method and device for producing beverage, preferably foamed milk or milk beverage

Abstract

To simplify the preparation of flavored milk beverages and enable optimal mixing of a flavor liquid within the beverage.SOLUTION: The invention relates to a method for producing a beverage, preferably foamed milk or a milk beverage, in which milk is drawn from a container (3) through at least one line (2, 4) by means of a pump (8) and conveyed through the line to an outflow port (11). Preferably, a plurality of different flavor liquids can be arbitrarily and at least individually supplied from respective containers (25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) into the line (2, 4) for conveying the milk. In this way, the flavor liquid is already mixed during production of the milk beverage. As a result, high-level mixing and the desired flavor can be optimally achieved.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to: a method for producing a beverage, preferably a milk foam or milk beverage, in which milk is sucked from a container through at least one line by means of a pump and conveyed through this line to an outlet; and to an apparatus relating to this method as described in the preamble of claim 6. [Background technology]

[0002] In known coffee machines of this type, milk is sucked out of a container and treated in a cold or hot state, or converted into cold or hot frothed milk, before being dispensed into a cup or the like. Furthermore, a flavoring liquid can be added to the produced beverage, which is exchangeably held in or next to the coffee machine and conveyed into the cup or the like through a hose to an outlet adjacent to the milk outlet. The flavoring liquid is then mixed with the beverage in the cup or the like. However, this does not provide a homogeneously and completely mixed beverage.

[0003] The flavoring liquid to be mixed is usually a syrup with the aroma of vanilla, chocolate, fruits such as raspberry or strawberry, or similar substances, although alcoholic flavoring liquids can also be used, such as for Irish coffee. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present invention is based on the object of avoiding these drawbacks and of providing a method and an apparatus of the type mentioned in the preamble, which simplifies the preparation of flavored milk drinks and ensures an optimal mixture of flavor liquids in said drinks. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] This problem is solved according to the invention by making it possible to supply a plurality of different flavor liquids, optionally from each container, at least separately through at least one supply line to a line for conveying milk.

[0006] In this way, the mixing of the flavor liquids is already carried out during the production of the milk drink in an apparatus which is either integrated into the coffee machine or a separate milk unit, so that a high degree of mixing and therefore the desired flavor is optimally achieved.

[0007] Advantageously, said flavouring liquid is added to the milk upstream of the inlet opening of the air delivery line into the milk conveying line, thus allowing a homogeneous milk drink with or without foamed milk to be optimally mixed with the desired flavour.

[0008] By using a steam line opening into the milk conveying line as a milk heating device, according to the invention the flavor liquid is added to the beverage in the milk conveying line upstream of the inlet opening of the steam line, and this addition is also optimally achieved at this point, since the flavor liquid is thus also heated, or remains cold when producing cold milk or frothed milk.

[0009] Alternatively, however, the flavoring liquid can be added to the beverage in the milk conveying line downstream of the inlet opening and upstream of the beverage outlet of the coffee machine, which can be advantageous to achieve a more consistent foamed milk.

[0010] Also according to the invention, the coffee machine is provided with preferably four different flavor liquid containers, which can be connected to the milk conveying line via a common connection part and which have four inlets and which are equipped with check valves for preventing milk or foamed milk from flowing into the containers, and which can be selectively opened or closed to provide different flavors to the beverage.

[0011] A further advantage of the method according to the invention is that the flavour liquid can also be delivered into the cup or the like through the milk delivery line without accompanying milk, if desired, so that the flavour liquid can be delivered separately to an already produced beverage, for example to form decorative designs on the surface of the foamed milk.

[0012] The invention will now be explained in more detail on the basis of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a hydraulic schematic of an apparatus according to the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a connecting sleeve at the inlet for flavoring liquid to the milk conveying line of the device according to FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The device 1 shown in Figure 1 comprises a milk container 3 with a line 2 which can be connected as a suction hose to a line 4 by means of a two-way valve 2'. The milk container 3 may consist of several part-containers containing different types of milk. In principle, this two-way valve 2' may be equipped with a through-flow throttle, so that approximately the same amount of milk is sucked out regardless of the filling level of the container 3.

[0015] The device 1 also comprises an air supply line 7, which can be connected to the inlet opening 31 of the line 4 via a switchable control valve 5 and a check valve 6, in order to prepare frothed milk. Furthermore, a controllable pump 8 is arranged in the line 4, by means of which milk is sucked out of the milk container 3 and conveyed to the outlet 11. Located in the line 4 downstream of the pump 8, which is configured, for example, as a gear pump, are preferably two throttling points 9, 17, which generate a vortex in the milk or in the milk / air mixture.

[0016] This is followed by a heating device for heating the milk or milk foam, consisting of a steam delivery line 10 equipped with a pressure regulating valve 12 followed by at least one steam line 12' opening into line 4 via a closing or opening valve 13' and a non-return valve 14'. Downstream of its inlet opening 15, line 4 contains a further restriction 17 for slowing down or swirling the milk or milk foam, which is provided as an option.

[0017] In line 4, the outlet line 20 is connected to an outlet 11 for the produced milk drink for filling cups 33 or the like. A two-way valve 21 serves on the one hand to pass the milk or frothed milk to the outlet 11 and on the other hand cooperates with a conventional cleaning circuit, of which the supply and discharge lines 22 are shown equipped with a cleaning valve 23 that can be switched on or off.

[0018] Furthermore, at least one thermostat 18 is integrated into line 4 for measuring the temperature of the milk or the foamed milk. This allows, via regulation, to achieve controlled production of foamed milk in a known manner, which will not be described in further detail. In principle, a measuring device can also be integrated into line 4 for determining the consistency of the foamed milk prepared.

[0019] According to the invention, a supply device 24 is included in the machine 1 in order to produce a flavored milk drink from a number of containers 25a-25d which are filled with flavor liquid during operation, each container containing a flavor liquid, each of which may have a different aroma or all of which may have the same aroma.

[0020] In the embodiment described here, the device comprises four containers. However, within the framework of the invention, fewer or more than four containers can also be provided, if desired. These containers are advantageously arranged in the device 1 in an exchangeable manner, so that they can be replaced by new containers after they have been emptied.

[0021] As already mentioned above, suitable flavoring liquids are in particular syrups with the aroma of vanilla, chocolate, fruits such as raspberry, strawberry, banana, or similar substances, or alcoholic flavoring liquids.

[0022] The liquids in the containers 25a-25d can be selectively pumped up and conveyed through the individual lines 26a-26d by the pump 8 and / or by respective conveying means 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d to a common supply line 27 equipped with a non-return valve 28 directly into line 2, in which the selected flavor liquid is mixed with milk. The inlet opening of the supply line 27 to line 2 is located between the milk container 3 and the two-way valve 2', i.e. upstream of the pump 8 which sucks the milk and upstream of the inlet opening 31 of the air supply line 7. Milk or a frothed milk drink flavored with the selected flavor liquid is thereby produced as required.

[0023] These conveying means 24 a , 24 b , 24 c , 24 d may simply be controllable valves, one or more of which open upon introduction of each flavor liquid, allowing the liquid to be drawn up by the pump 8 .

[0024] 1 also shows a device 24', represented by a dashed line, which can be provided instead of or in addition to device 24, so that the connection to line 4 is located downstream of connection 15 of steam line 12'. To connect vessels 25a'-25d' to line 4, a feed line 27' equipped with a check valve 28' is provided.

[0025] These devices 24, 24' offer the same advantage in that they can produce both cold and hot flavored milk and frothed milk drinks, only the degree of mixing of the milk or frothed milk with each selected flavor liquid may differ slightly from case to case.

[0026] The device 24, 24' according to the invention, which can be integrated into the coffee machine or can be a separate unit, is characterized by a very compact construction, with selections made by means of selection buttons on the operating display, and has the advantage that it has little effect on the overall construction of the machine up to the outlet.

[0027] 2 further shows another variant of the connecting sleeve 30 of the supply device 24, which connects the lines 25a to 25d and the supply line 27 to the line 4. Such a connection can therefore be realized very easily.

[0028] The exemplary embodiment described above has sufficiently demonstrated the invention. The invention can also be illustrated by further variants. For example, instead of one supply line 27 leading to the milk line, each of the lines 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d can also lead directly to this milk line.

[0029] Instead of the conveying means 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d also acting as shut-off valves, shut-off valves can also be provided as described above, so that when a particular flavor liquid is selected, the corresponding shut-off valve is opened and a particular single conveying means is switched on, thus conveying the corresponding flavor liquid into the milk line. Two or more flavor liquids can also be introduced simultaneously.

[0030] A heating device such as a flow heater may also be provided, which is integrated in known manner with line 4 of the milk conveying system.

Claims

1. 1. A method for producing a beverage, preferably a foamed milk or milk beverage, comprising: sucking milk from a container (3) by means of a pump (8) through at least one line (2, 4) and conveying it therethrough to an outlet (11), 10. A method according to claim 9, characterized in that a plurality of different flavouring liquids can be fed optionally, at least individually, from each container (25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) to said lines (2, 4) for conveying said milk.

2. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one flavor liquid can be sucked from the container (25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) by the pump (8) and / or via conveying means (24a, 24b, 24c, 24d) and conveyed through the supply line (27) to the line (2).

3. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the milk can be conveyed from the container (3) and the flavor liquid from each of the vessels (25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) by the pump (8) and / or the flavor liquid can be conveyed by the conveying means (24a, 24b, 24c, 24d) in the lines (26a, 26b, 26c, 26d) in a controlled manner, each in definable amounts.

4. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of flavoring liquids can be conveyed to the lines (2, 4) from respective containers (25a, 25b, 25c, 25d), optionally through the same supply line (27) or through respective separate supply lines.

5. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the produced milk or the foamed milk is transported to the outlet (11) at low or high temperature, with or without the flavor liquid, respectively, or wherein only at least one flavor liquid can be transported without milk.

6. 6. An apparatus for carrying out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, integrated into a coffee machine or into a separate milk unit, comprising at least one container (3), lines (2, 4), a pump (8) for sucking up the milk, an air supply line (7) opening into the line (4) for preparing the frothed milk, and a heating device for the milk, 1. The device, characterized in that at least one supply device (24) with at least one supply line (27) opens into said line (2, 4) for conveying milk, through which preferably a plurality of flavor liquids can be conveyed respectively from containers (25a, 25b, 25c, 25d).

7. 7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the supply line (27) for the flavouring liquid opens into the line (2, 4) for conveying the milk upstream of the inlet opening (31) of the air supply line (7) and upstream of the pump (8).

8. 8. Apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that as heating device at least one steam line (12') is provided which opens into said line (4) for heating the milk or the frothed milk.

9. 7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the supply line (27) for the flavouring liquid opens into the line (4) upstream of the outlet (20) and downstream of the at least one inlet opening (15) of the steam line (12').

10. 10. Apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the vessels (25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) are each provided with lines (26a, 26b, 26c, 26d), each of which is provided with conveying means (24a, 24b, 24c, 24d) or valves for opening or closing these lines.

11. Device according to any one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that the containers (25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) are arranged exchangeably so that they can be replaced by new containers after they have been emptied.

Images